Showing posts with label reductions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reductions. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

MA State House News: Baker differs on tax breaks; Auditor says communities should get support to run elections

Via CommonWealth Magazine, we find these share worthy: 

"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER told lawmakers on Tuesday that Massachusetts can easily afford his package of $700 million in tax cuts, and the state needs some of the changes benefitting higher-income taxpayers to prevent them from moving elsewhere.

“Not only can we afford this tax relief proposal, we believe it’s time to give Massachusetts families back some of the tax revenue that they created through their hard work,” Baker told the Legislature’s Revenue Committee at a hybrid hearing held in person and virtually on the first day the State House was open in nearly two years.

The tax relief package in some sense pits a Republican governor against a Democrat-controlled Legislature whose leaders to date have not made reducing taxes a high priority. During the hearing, Democratic lawmakers focused most of their attention on the governor’s proposed reductions in the estate tax and the income tax on short-term capital gains — two taxes that benefit wealthier individuals. They suggested the money for those tax breaks could be better spent on reducing taxes paid by lower-income taxpayers."

Continue reading the article online
"THE STATE WILL OWE cities and towns more than $2 million to keep polling places open for additional mandated voting hours during the September 2022 state primary and November 2022 general elections, Auditor Suzanne Bump said Tuesday.

Under the 1983 Uniform Polling Hours Law, cities and towns must keep polling locations open for at least 13 hours on primary and general election days, an increase from the previously-required 10 hours of voting. The law also directs the auditor to certify what offering the extra hours will cost municipalities with the costs to be paid through the secretary of state’s office."
 

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Boston Globe: "MBTA service will be cut significantly in early 2021"

The Boston Globe has the following:
"The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will curtail service next year after the agency’s oversight board finalized a plan Monday to reduce subway frequencies and eliminate weekend commuter rail trains on several lines in response to low ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The package, approved 3-2 by the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board, is more limited in scope than a plan the agency had presented in November that frustrated advocates and political leaders, but still represents a considerable reduction in service.

The MBTA described the budget cuts as a short- to medium-term measure to take advantage of unprecedented declines in ridership, with most changes taking effect between January and March. But with ridership forecasts murky at best, officials said they have not developed plans for service levels during the fiscal year that begins in July, when coronavirus vaccines may be widely available."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

and CommonWealth Magazine has an article on the same topic
"THE MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board approved a series of scaled-back service cuts on Monday and then, in an apparent swipe at Beacon Hill, voted not to raise fares on bus and subway riders until service hours and ridership on those transportation modes return to pre-COVID levels.

Brian Lang, a member of the control board, proposed the fare amendment after expressing frustration about lawmakers who tell him and his colleagues not to cut service but then do nothing to provide the revenues needed to maintain service.

“Taxes have turned into a dirty word,” Lang said. “The Legislature is afraid of it.”
Continue reading the article online

Monday, December 14, 2020

Reminder - Commuter Rail notice: Reduced Service Schedule begins today

All Commuter Rail lines will operate on the Reduced Service Schedule on weekdays beginning Monday, December 14th and for at least 2 weeks, due to Covid-19 impact in communities and in the workforce. Weekend trains will operate on regular schedule.

Reduced Service Schedule is now available from MBTA.com/cr and at South Station, North Station and Back Bay.

Bikes will be allowed on board all trains.

On Friday, January 1st, The Commuter Rail will operate on a regular Sunday Schedule.

We will be reviewing staff numbers on a weekly basis to determine when we can be confident of being able to restore the full service.

Last Updated: Dec 14 2020 05:09 AM 

Reduced Service Schedule begins today
Reduced Service Schedule begins today


Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Town Council recap for Dec 18 - plastic bag waste reduction moves forward

The FHS student group working on the plastic bag reduction plan achieved a milestone after several meetings with the Economic Development Subcommittee to prepare, the Town Council agreed to move the measure forward to be developed as a bylaw. The draft language previously discussed in the EDC meetings will be tweaked and brought forward to the Council for the first of two public readings, a public hearing and eventual vote.

Several items on the alcohol license front:
  • La Cantina received a license for the Farmers Market
  • Acupalco's move from downtown to Union St was approved
  • The Chateau corrected their operating hours changing them slightly
  • Glen Pharma Distillery gained approval for their tasting license
  • The yearly batch of license renewals was approved

The Actions Taken document has not yet been published. Once it has that link will be added.

Additional details can be found in my notes recorded live during the meeting
  • Live reporting: TA Report through to Closing
 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/live-reporting-ta-report-through-to.html
  • Live reporting: Town Administrator Evaluation
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/live-reporting-town-administrator.html
  • Live reporting: Plastic Bag Waste Reduction
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/live-reporting-plastic-bag-waste.html
  • Live reporting: Alcohol Licenses - new, changes, a...
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/live-reporting-alcohol-licenses-new.html
  • Live reporting: Town Council - December 18, 2019
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/live-reporting-town-council-december-18.html

Glen Pharma Distillery gained approval for their tasting license
Glen Pharma Distillery gained approval for their tasting license

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Reminder: Lane Reductions & Ramp Closures on I-90 in Boston this Weekend (June 1-3)

Beginning at 9:00 PM on Friday, June 1, MassDOT will reduce I-90 (Mass Pike) between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass in Boston to two lanes in each direction. I-90 will reopen to four lanes in each direction by 5:00 AM on Sunday, June 3. This will allow MassDOT and its contractor to conduct necessary preparation activities and a "dry run" to test the I-90 traffic logistics for the 2018 Construction Shutdown (July 26 – August 11), with the goal of making sure it will run as smoothly as possible.

The I-90 Eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldier's Field Road will be closed during the dry run. The I-90 Westbound Exit 20 off-ramp to Brighton/Cambridge will be closed intermittently. See the I-90 (Mass Pike) Ramp Closures Detour Map and directions on the Traffic Management page (http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CommonwealthAvenueBridgeReplacement/TrafficManagement.aspx).

During the dry run, a "crossover" on I-90 will direct all vehicles to either the eastbound or westbound roadways at different periods of time. There will be no impacts to the MBTA Green Line, Commuter Rail, or local vehicular traffic during the dry run.

I-90 Impacts during the 2018 Construction Shutdown

From 9:00 PM on July 27 to 5:00 AM on August 6, MassDOT will implement lane reductions and ramp closures on I-90 in Boston (between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass), as follows:

• Two lanes in each direction during peak hours (additional lane closures during weekends and off-peak hours).
• The I-90 Eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road will be closed this entire period.
• The I-90 Westbound Exit 20 off-ramp to Brighton/Cambridge will be closed intermittently.
• The lane reductions will be necessary during the shutdown for the contractor to access the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge for demolition and replacement (see the video simulation of the project on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiGoPf8-3-Q).

For a full list of traffic impacts during the 2018 Construction Shutdown, see the Traffic Management page of the project website (http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CommonwealthAvenueBridgeReplacement/TrafficManagement.aspx).

Please share this advisory with anyone you think may be interested in the project, and encourage them to sign up for email alerts for traffic updates and meeting announcements: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MADOT/subscriber/new?topic_id=MADOT_77%27.

For more information on the Commonwealth Ave Bridge Replacement Project, please visit the project website: www.mass.gov/massdot/commavebridge.

For any questions or comments, please contact Jim Kersten, MassDOT Legislative Liaison, at 857-368-9041 or by email at CommAveBridge@dot.state.ma.us.

Sincerely,

Commonwealth Ave Bridge Replacement Project Team





Reminder: Commonwealth Ave. Bridge Project This Week; I-90 Lane Reductions
Reminder: Commonwealth Ave. Bridge Project This Week; I-90 Lane Reductions

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Franklin School Personnel Reductions 2003-2009: updated

In the preparations for the Override Vote in June, I had prepared this slideshow with the help of information from the School Department and careful review by some School Committee members. With the Override finalized, the adjustments to staffing levels complete, I thought it would be good to go back and update the numbers to ensure that this record will be available.

The override in June was probably not the last one Franklin will vote on. Hence the need for keeping the numbers current and accurate.




The earlier version of this can be found here

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

School by School class size if the override fails

A new slideshow based upon the reductions if the override scheduled for June 10th were to fail.

This is what the $2.8 Million budget reduction would look like at each school in Franklin.


Sunday, June 1, 2008

Q & A 3 - responses continued by Doak, Cafasso (audio)

From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.

A - Doak, picking up on another comment to increase the revenues. We get get a good deal from the industrial and retail establishments. We have tried to foster commercial and industrial growth with smart policies. Council has encouraged good growth over the years and is looking to continue that so the residential taxpayers don't take the whole burden.

A - Cafasso, the school department has made cuts over the years to protect the classroom and to be as efficient as possible.

Time: 3 minutes, 15 seconds



MP3 File

For reference, the Franklin School Departments budget reductions over the years from 2002 to 2009 can be found here

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

School Committee - override reductions

In the event of the override not passing, the cuts were not previously announced in specific for a couple of reasons (1) notification to the teachers needed to occur first (2) to avoid "scare tactic".

Will not know until evening of the 10th what will happen but the high school is preparing two schedules; one with the override passing and one if the override fails.

Listing provided of the specific positions (to be posted soon)

high school class size will run 28-30
middle school
elementary schools some classes can go as high as 28-30 in specific grades

Ogden - FHS accreditation will be looked on "unkindly" with 17 positions being removed from the school. You can't predict what they will do. However it is likely there will be some adverse action.

Gould - transition to high school is the most important thing to protect, a "sacred cow"

class size discussion, most classes are going to be exceeding the range, not just on the high end of the ranges (if the override fails)

Gould - Franklin has done well at protecting the school instructional side, there is nothing else to cut. The FHS supplies budget is less than it was in 2001 and this is with an increase in students since 2001.

Mullen - would cutting French V affect the college placement for the seniors?
Gould - possibly. Students have to go somewhere, the electives can go higher. "Under Ed Reform, you can not have study halls. You have time to learn measurements."

Cafasso - could you get some others to assist with some of the journalism or public speaking?
Gould - they would need to be certified according to the state

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

"this is not a drill"

April to April - 200 increase

coincidently works out to about $2.6 million, increase in students means an increase in costs

high school enrollment will increase at a minimum of 101

17 teacher positions are projected to be cut at the high school
parents of means make make the choice after June 10th to move the students to private school to maintain a smaller class size

Sabolinski
"this is not a drill"

Roy
"This is not the way to attract and retain good teachers"

Friday, May 9, 2008

Franklin School Department positions lost 2003-2009


If the override does not get passed, the school department would lose 46.5 positions. The reduction this year (FY 2009) would come primarily from teachers in the classroom this year that would leave in June and not return to help Franklin's students continue their education in September.

A more complete picture of the reductions in the education budget can be found in the slide presentation found here.

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Learn all you can by visiting here frequently.

Visit the School Committee override page for the schedule of information sessions

You can find all the override related information here


Be informed to cast your vote on June 10th