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 …
Monday, February 25, 2013
Do you wonder what the 'sequester' will mean for Massachusetts? A White House report gives examples of where federal aid would be cut.
Massachusetts would see more than $91 million in federal funds cut from myriad programs if Congress fails to act this week to avoid the sequester, the Obama Administration said Sunday. In a move designed to pressure Republicans into accepting new taxes on the wealthy as part of a deal to prevent the sequester from taking effect on Friday, the White House released reports that outlined how those cuts would impact individual states, The Huffington Post reported. Here are some examples of what's on the chopping block for us here in Massachusetts, according to the report: After the reports were released, congressional Republicans criticized the Obama administration for the PR move, The Huffington Post reported. “Rather than issuing last-minute…
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Technology chief tells Superintendent and School Committee that systems and equipment are in 'very poor shape.'
The computers and servers are outdated. The backup systems are virtually non-existent. The network infrastructure is past its lifespan. And the schools lack proper networking systems. And to make matters worse for the technology department at the Marblehead Schools, the staff that has kept the computers limping along is understaffed, overwhelmed and overloaded. This was the message Technology Supervisor Kenneth Lord delivered to Superintendent Gary Maass and the School Committee recently. The cost to repair the system: $1.2 million to $1.4 million, Lord said. "The Marblehead Public Schools technology systems are in very poor shape," Lord wrote as the first line in his 28-page report, plus appendices. Level funding will address only a small…
42.495
-70.87222
Marblehead Public Schools
9 Widger Rd, Marblehead, MA
/articles/school-technology-upgrade-may-cost-more-than-1-million
232072
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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…
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
But State Rep. Lori Ehrlich does appreciate Gov. Patrick's proposed investment in schools and transportation.
State Rep. Lori Ehrlich has questions and reservations about Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal to generate $1.9 billion in revenue through hikes and reductions to taxes, eliminating deductions and doubling exemptions. But she does appreciate his desire to invest in education and transportation. Ultimately, the devil is in the details. And it will be the job of legislators "to figure out what is urgent, aspirational and inadvisable." "There is time to sort this all out and quite a bit of process ahead," she said. "The governor's proposal will be closely scrutinized by the legislature and throughout that process I welcome feedback from constituents." The governor's $34.8 billion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2014 would invest hundreds of …
Monday, January 7, 2013
The annual presentation offers an overview of the budget for the 2014 fiscal year.
Marblehead's town administrator and finance director will make an initial town budget presentation for Fiscal Year 2014 on Tuesday at Abbot Hall. Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren and Finance Director John McGinn will present the overview to the Board of Selectmen at 5 p.m. Board Chairman Jackie Belf-Becker said the overview presents a framework, a conservative framework for the budget process. The conservative approach is helpful since the budget is influenced by factors that are subject to change, items including state aid and health insurance costs. The value in the presentation is it sets a positive tone for the budget process, Belf-Becker said. "We are entering the process in the black and hope to stay there," she said. The 2012 State …
42.502755
-70.852587
Abbot Hall, Town of Marblehead
188 Washington St, Marblehead, MA
/articles/state-of-the-town-presentation-on-tuesday
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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 ›