Saturday, April 6, 2013
Should the state forge ahead with Gov. Deval Patrick's bold plan to invest now? Or should it follow the Legislature leadership's proposal to address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives?
Massachusetts legislators this week answered Gov. Deval Patrick's ambitious plan to raise $1.9 billion for transportation and education with a $500 million plan of their own, which says the governor is asking for too much, too soon as the Bay State shakes off the effects of the Great Recession. Who's right? Should the state forge ahead in a bold plan to invest now? Or should it cautiously address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives? While Patrick's plan includes funding for both the state transportation system and increased education funding from preschool through college, House and Senate lawmakers eschew new revenue for education, focusing solely on closing the transportation budget gap over the next five years. The …
Saturday, March 2, 2013
The governor's optimistic but state legislators don't sound so sure. What do you think?
Governor Deval Patrick is still bullish about his budget proposal, which will raise $1.9 billion in new revenue through an increase in the income tax, decrease in the sales tax, and various other changes to taxes, fees and deductions. But the men and women who have to pass the bill don't sound as eager to support a package many see as a politically-damaging measure. The Boston Herald quotes several Beacon Hill legislators who sounded notes of caution to outright opposition to the budget. Those quoted cited the 1990 election losses in the wake of an income tax increase, pressure on small businesses and the higher price of gas as reasons they were skeptical. And the governor's new web tools touting proposed transportation and education …
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Massachusetts is chock full of defense contractors, federal employees and federal program beneficiaries. Are you worried the U.S. budget sequester will hurt your family's finances?
The U.S. government has a week before its self-imposed sequestration deadline. If enacted, the across-the-board cuts to the federal budget could mean layoffs, decreased aid and lower government spending. That could mean trouble for some popular government programs, such as Social Security and Medicare. Defense contractors are also preparing for lost and reduced contracts with the government. Locally, it could also doom smaller programs that have a big impact. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps families in need pay for home heating oil and other energy costs. Massachusetts stands to lose over $11 million in assistance under this one program alone. Representatives Ed Markey and Jim McGovern are trying to shield the program…
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Gas prices have spiked on the North Shore in the past month. That got us wondering: Where is the cheapest gas on the North Shore, and how far out of your way would you drive to buy it?
If you've filled up recently on the North Shore, you probably noticed gas prices are spiking. AAA Southern New England said its survey of prices in Massachusetts on Tuesday found self-serve, regular unleaded averaging $3.77 per gallon in the Boston metro area. That's a nickel higher than a week ago and up 30 cents over the past month. That got us thinking: Where on the North Shore is the cheapest gas? Depending on where you live, how far would you drive to buy it? Using Mapquest data, we found the lowest price in North Shore Patch towns to be Concord Gas in Danvers, which charged $3.49 on Tuesday. Highest was Lynnfield, where you'd shell out $3.80 a gallon at the Mobil. Of course if you belong to clubs like Costco or BJs, you can sometimes…
Saturday, March 3, 2012
State Senator Katherine Clark outlines the challenges of setting the Fiscal Year 2013 budget.
Budget season is upon us on Beacon Hill. As we plunge into the budget debate for Fiscal Year 2013, which begins July 1, 2012, we again face a constrained fiscal environment. While the Massachusetts economy is recovering and our unemployment rate is improving, we still face significant challenges: getting people back to work in good-paying jobs, growing local businesses, and supporting our schools, cities and towns as they work to provide vital services. In late January, Governor Patrick made his budget recommendations to the legislature, at a level of 32.3 billion, a 2.98 percent increase from this year’s estimated spending level. Working with the Governor and my colleagues in the legislature, and with your ongoing input, I believe we …
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
The proposed 2013 budget is $1.3 million higher than the 2012 budget, but falls within the town's projected guidelines.
The Wakefield School Department has requested a $27.9 million budget for fiscal year 2013, a $1.3 million increase from last year, according to a budget presentation at Tuesday night's School Committee meeting. The 4.88 percent increase from last year is mainly due to the expiration of federal stimulus funds and contractual salary increases, while also maintaining current educational programs and class sizes said Michael Connolly, business administrator for the Wakefield School Department. Where the money goes The largest chunk of the budget, 83 percent, goes towards faculty and staff salaries, Connolly said. "One of the major budget drivers for this budget is personnel, but many of their contracts are in their third and final year of …
Nameless Conservative
8:53 am on Friday, April 12, 2013
Don't forget to save your receipt for the IRS to prove basis or they'll nail you. I'm thinking of something more along the lines of ping pong balls myself. I'm still ruminating why I sat on the fence when beer pong took off. I would've been Naples, FL laughing at all you shrubs in MA by now! more ›