Saturday, March 12, 2022

“There’s three criteria in this formula, and two of the three rural towns will never achieve”

For those who participated in either the Finance Committee or Joint Budget Subcommittee meetings this week, heard that Chapter 90 money from the state is technically 'grant' money targeted for roads. The formula for the grant calculation was created in 1972 and hasn't been changed since. A change is apparently on the horizon.

"THE HOUSE’S TRANSPORTATION policy leader pledged Wednesday that lawmakers will consider revising the state’s road and bridge funding formula, an indication that years of complaints by rural lawmakers may finally pay off.

“The Chapter 90 allocation is based on a population area road mile formula that was developed by MassDOT decades ago,” said Rep. William Straus, a Mattapoisett Democrat who is the House chair of the Transportation Committee. “There’s no question that some examination of how that formula is determined should occur.”

Straus said when a revision could happen is still to be determined. “That may occur at a committee level, it may occur in recommendations from House Ways and Means, it may occur during budget debate, it’s hard to tell,” Straus said."


Chapter 90 money is for roads, construction, reconstruction, and potholes
Chapter 90 money is for roads, construction, reconstruction, and potholes

No comments:

Post a Comment