Senator Stan Rosenberg The Rosenberg Report

Volume XIV
March 3, 2003

Hello!

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

On February 26th, we took that first step when Governor Romney unveiled his budget proposal for fiscal year 2004, which begins July 1st. There's a lot to do between now and then and nothing that the governor has proposed can take effect without approval from the Legislature. Here is my initial reaction to the document.

The governor's proposal addresses the projected $3 billion deficit by making more than $2 billion in cuts and raising nearly $700 million through a variety of fees. But the document itself is so radical in format that it is going to take several days, perhaps even weeks, to unravel it and understand what is getting funded and what isn't. For example, previous budgets have consisted of roughly 1,000 separate line items and programs. The governor has consolidated those line items into 72 large accounts and more often than not it is unclear how much has been allotted for specific programs. The governor claims that the cuts he has made will not affect essential services, and that education and human services accounts have been protected. Again, it will take time to read the fine print to determine whether he has in fact achieved that goal, but based on my initial read, some things that I consider to be essential have in fact been cut or eliminated.

The governor has also put forward a dramatic plan to reorganize state government. I have always said that such proposals should be seriously considered and not just rejected out of hand. His proposals for restructuring the state's higher education system are so sketchy at this time that it's difficult to evaluate them completely and fairly. But based on my initial read of his proposal, I am concerned about a number of things, especially the possibility that the governor is nudging UMass-Amherst toward privatization. Regarding the governor's plan for human services, some of his broad concepts for streamlining administrations and procedures seem to make sense. Again, there is much fine print left to read, but my initial take on the governor's plan for human services is that it could free up dollars for direct services that might otherwise stay tied up in the bureaucracy.

The jury is still out on Governor Romney's fiscal '04 budget, but some of the initial analyses of the document indicate that the effort to weed out waste and inefficiency will produce only $100 million in savings, not the $2 billion the administration claims. Over the weekend, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation released a report (http://www.masstaxpayers.org/whats_happening.html) stating that any positive aspects of the governor's reorganization plans are undermined by vastly overstated savings projections. And today, Representative John Rogers (D-Norwood), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, released a letter to his colleagues stating that the governor's budget, also known as House 1, cuts programs and services by more than $900 million and relies on $650 million in one-time revenues and revenues from questionable sources that may not materialize. Like the rest of us in the Legislature, Representative Rogers wants and open, honest discussion of our budget crisis and is eager to entertain any creative proposal. But to do that, as Representative Rogers said, we need to "dispel the myth that House 1 achieves over $2 billion in savings through restructuring and reform alone."

We need to hear a lot more about Governor Romney's proposals before the House of Representatives releases its version of the budget sometime in late-April or early-May, and before the Senate produces its spending plan after that. Let's hope he's as open to our thinking as he is asking us to be about his.

Below is a link to the governor's budget, which is only available on-line. Below that is a feedback form you can use to send me your thoughts. I look forward to reading them and considering them as the fiscal '04 budget takes another step closer.

Governor Romney's Fiscal 2004 Budget Proposal
http://mass.gov/budget/?refer=massgovbudget3

Stan's Feedback Form
http://www.stanrosenberg.com/form.html
 

Yours,                   

Stan

March Focus

Current year budget crisis

The fiscal '04 budget is grabbing all the headlines now, but we still have a fiscal '03 budget crisis to address.

On Feb. 25th, the Legislature approved a package that seeks to close the gap in this year's budget, estimated to be between $485-$650 million. The package totals $207 million and includes a variety of transfers from special purpose government funds into the General Fund, and a few new fees, like the $60 million expected to be generated by increasing real estate transaction fees. The Legislature's $207 million package, combined with the $343 million in cuts Governor Romney made unilaterally in January, add up to $550 million. We are all hopeful that the projected deficit will stay on the low end so further action on the fiscal '03 budget will not be necessary.

The Legislature also agreed with Governor Romney's plan to close some tax loopholes and send that money to the state's Rainy Day Fund. Those changes could pour as much as $137 million into the Rainy Day Fund, which could help us in fiscal '04.

All of these proposals are on the governor's desk awaiting his signature.

February revenues

The Department of Revenue today released the revenue collections for February, and they are up $38 million, or 4.7 percent, over last February. The good news is the February figure is $4 million larger than the budgetary benchmark, so the budget-balancing problems have not grown any worse. Click here for the Department of Revenue's press release.

Department of Revenue
http://www.dor.state.ma.us/pressreleases/2003/february03revenues.htm

Noteworthy

Mitigation report

Last month I told you I had been named to chair a 6-member panel to explore ways to give cities and towns more tools to assist with the impact of local aid cuts. On Feb. 15th we filed our report with the full Senate. It's too early to say what, if any, of the ideas contained in the report might be approved in the coming months, but I'm hopeful that there will be some action in the next couple of months. I appreciate everyone who forwarded their suggestions to my office.

As you'll see when you read the report, it is an inventory of the ideas presented. The next step will be for the Senate chairs of the substantive committees to evaluate each of the proposals in their area of jurisdiction and make their recommendations to the full Senate. Incidentally, this approach is part of the changing Senate. In the past, a report of this sort might well have been sent to the Senate Ways and Means Committee where most of the decisions would have been made, perhaps without consultation with the chairs of the committees of jurisdiction.

If you would like to read the report, click here:

http://www.stanrosenberg.com/mitigation.html

Roundup

Stan's Municipal Conference

State government comes to western Mass!

For all the municipal officials out there, it is my pleasure to announce the program for my 2003 Hampshire & Franklin Municipal Conference on Saturday, April 12th, at The Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Northampton. A new administration and a new Senate President means lots of new people in prominent positions, so I hope you'll take this opportunity to come and share your western Massachusetts perspective. We'll have a keynote speech from Lt. Governor Kerry Healey, a panel discussion on the future of state finances and a sandwich buffet lunch to top off a day of lively discussion.

Remember, this conference is for municipal officials only. Please take a minute to review the lineup of this year’s conference. If you have any questions, or to RSVP, call my district office at 413-587-6289, or send an e-mail to Tom in my district office at mailto:tumitch@sprynet.com.

I’m looking forward to seeing you April 12th!

Senator Stan Rosenberg's Conference for Municipal Officials Schedule

8:00am

 Registration, Refreshments
8:45am Welcoming Remarks
9:00am First Session Begins
10:30am First Session Ends
10:45am Second Session Begins
12:15pm Second Session Ends
12:30pm Lunch
1:15pm Keynote Address from Lt. Governor Kerry Healey
2:00pm Panel Discussion: The Future of State Finances
Panelists: Michael Widmer, President, Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation
Senator Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) Chair, Senate Committee on Ways and Means
3:00pm Conference Ends

First Session Panels

9 am-10:30 am (choose one)

    Elder Affairs

    Topics likely to be covered in session are: the future of health care financing for seniors, including home care programs and prescription drug subsidies, the $1.30 pharmacy tax, and the future of programs run by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, like grants to local Councils on Aging.

    Panelists: Senator Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge) Chair, Health Care Committee
    Senator Susan Tucker (D-Andover) Chair, Elder Affairs Committee
    Secretary Jennifer Davis Carey, Executive Office of Elder Affairs
    Representative Antonio Cabral (D-New Bedford) Chair, Elder Affairs Committee
    Representative John Scibak (D-South Hadley), Elder Affairs Committee
    Moderator: Isaac BenEzra, Chair Amherst Council on Aging

    Smart Growth Initiative

    The Smart Growth Initiative will be discussed during this session, along with other possible changes in zoning and planning.

    Panelists: Representative Stephen Kulik (D-Worthington), Natural Resources Committee
    Senator Pamela Resor (D-Acton) Chair, Natural Resources Committee
    Linda Dunlavy, Executive Director, Franklin Council of Governments
    Patricia Crosby, Executive Director, Regional Employment Board
    Fred Habib, Deputy Director, Department of Housing and Community Development
    Moderator: Representative Ellen Story (D-Amherst)

    Education Policy

    Topics will likely include MCAS and bi-lingual education, and questions about the Education Reform Act.

    Panelists: Senator Robert Antonioni (D-Leominster) Chair, Education Committee
    Representative Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston) Chair, Education Committee
    Commissioner David Driscoll, Department of Education
    Secretary Peter Nessen (designee), Executive Office of Education
    Moderator: Representative Christopher Donelan (D-Orange)

    Arts, Libraries and Historic Preservation

    Panelists will discuss how the state’s fiscal crisis has affected their agencies and what steps they are taking to preserve programs.

    Panelists: Charlie McDermott, Deputy Director, Massachusetts Cultural Council
    Rob Maier, Director, Board of Library Commissioners
    Cara Harbecke Metz, Executive Director, Massachusetts Historic Commission
    Moderator: Elsa Fitzgerald (Invited) Preservation Mass.

Second Session Panels

10:45 am-12:15 pm (choose one)

    Public Safety

    Topics that are likely to come up include: the future of emergency management planning programs, assistance the state is receiving from the federal government for homeland security, and changes in community policing and DARE programs.

    Panelists: Representative Timothy Toomey (D-Cambridge) Chair, Public Safety Committee
    Senator Brian Joyce (D-Milton) Vice Chair, Public Safety Committee
    Patrick Carnevale, Director, Region III, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
    Moderator: Representative Christopher Donelan (D-Orange)

    Housing & Community Development

    Topics that are likely to come up include: the future of Executive Order 418, the prognosis for streamlining the regulatory process for housing and economic development projects, and general questions and concerns regarding affordable housing

    Panelists: Senator Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester) Chair, Housing Committee
    Paul Douglas, Executive Director, Franklin County Housing & Re-Development Authority
    Don Bianchi, Housing Director, Hilltown Community Development Corp.
    Fred Habib, Deputy Director, Department of Housing and Community Development
    Moderator: Representative John Scibak (D-South Hadley)

    Education Financing

    Topics will include the future of the School Building Assistance program, possible revisions to the Chapter 70 formula and questions about the Education Reform Act ten years later

    Panelists: Senator Robert Antonioni (D-Leominster) Chair, Education Committee
    Representative Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston) Chair, Education Committee
    Commissioner David Driscoll, Department of Education
    Secretary Peter Nessen (designee), Executive Office of Education
    Moderator: Representative Ellen Story (D-Amherst)

    Transportation & Construction

    Topics will include the status of the new “fix it first” policies and how communities might help make those policies work. Other topics likely to come up include: the small-town road standards and the proposals concerning county roads.

    Panelists: Senator Steve Baddour (D-Methuen) Chair, Transportation Committee
    Representative Joseph Wagner (D-Chicopee) Chair, Transportation Committee
    Secretary Dan Grabauskus, Executive Office of Transportation and Construction
    Ross Dindio, Director, Mass Highway District 1
    John Hoey, Director, Mass Highway District 2
    Moderator: Representative Stephen Kulik (D-Worthington)

Registration Form
(Please register by April 9th)

Remember, this conference is for municipal officials only. If you want to register on-line, please click here Stan's Municipal Conference Registration

Local event

On Sunday, March 9th, from 3-5:30 p.m., Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity will hold a benefit auction at the Red Barn, Hampshire College. I'm going to be one of the auctioneers and I'm told that the items for this event are "heirloom treasures and collectibles" that are at least 50 years old and worth at least $50. The folks at Habitat are still assembling the items, but so far they have a Civil War cavalry sword, a number of wooden hand tools and a collection of Victorian children's toys.

For more information about Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, and the upcoming auction, you can visit their website at www.pioneervalleyhabitat.org.

Environmental community grants

Northeast Utilities and its Western Massachusetts Electric Co. (WMECO) subsidiary are accepting applications for its Environmental Community Grant Program.

Eligible projects include those that protect or preserve the environment, provide education on environmental issues of local interest, or reclaim and rehabilitate damaged natural environments through organized clean up efforts. the cash grants range from $250-$1,000 and environmental project leaders throughout WMECO's service territory are encouraged to apply.

Applications are available on-line at http://www.nu.com/environmental/grant.pdf or by calling Christie L. Bradway at 800-286-5000, xt. 701-5296.

Trivia

The answer to last month's question -- Name the state fish -- is: the Cod.

Thanks to everybody who played along. And now the winner of the lunch and State House tour, chosen at random from the thousands (just kidding!) of correct answers is Sandy C. from somewhere in cyberspace. We'll send Sandy information on who to contact in my Boston office and we'll look forward to seeing Sandy at the State House. Congratulations Sandy!

Now to this month's question and another chance to win lunch and a State House tour. Name the state horse.

Submit your answer to mailto:tumitch@sprynet.com and watch this space for the correct answer and the prize winner.

Links

Here are a few links. Until next time, happy surfing!

Stan Rosenburg

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