Franklin Matters

Friday, December 21, 2012

MassBudget: Rise and Fall of Local Aid in Massachusetts

MassBudget		Information.
MassBudget		Participation.
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center		Democracy.

The Rise and Fall of Local Aid

To help close a mid-year budget gap, the Governor has proposed a 1% cut to General Local Aid, a program that provides money to cities and towns for police and fire protection, parks, and other vital local services.

On its own, that is a relatively small part of the Governor's broader cuts. But funding for General Local Aid is already at its lowest point in over three decades. Like so many other programs in the state budget, it has been squeezed by the large revenue shortfalls that followed the income tax cuts of the late 90s.

MassBudget's new report, "The Rise and Fall of Local Aid in Massachusetts" finds that:

Total aid to cities and towns--including both General Local Aid and Education funding--declined by $1.7 billion between 1982 and 2012 (adjusted for economic growth).

The bulk of that decline--$1.3 billion of the $1.7 billion--comes in the form of reduced funding for General Local Aid (adjusted for economic growth).

An accompanying interactive tool allows you to track changes in General Local Aid for each city and town in Massachusetts.

Read THE RISE AND FALL OF LOCAL AID IN MASSACHUSETTS

Track GENERAL LOCAL AID FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

In addition to this report on Local Aid, MassBudget is also releasing its annual assessment of education funding in Massachusetts, "Public School Funding in Massachusetts: Where We Are, What Has Changed, and How We Compare to Other States."

Using the latest Census data on state-by-state education spending, we find that:

Massachusetts devotes a smaller portion of its total resources to education than most states

Per-pupil spending in Massachusetts is relatively high (the fact that Massachusetts is a high-income state means that it can spend more than others on a per-pupil basis while still using a smaller percentage of the state's total resources)

Read PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING IN MASSACHUSETTS

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER

15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700

BOSTON, MA 02108



Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center \| 15 Court Square \| Suite 700 \| Boston \| MA \| 02108

Business After Hours Jan. 15

United Regional Chamber of Commerce

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS JAN. 15, 2013

Take the first step to improving your business in 2013. Attend a Business After Hours sponsored by The United Regional Chamber of Commerce's Extreme Networking Group I on Jan. 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The cost is $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members.

The event will be held at Dean College, Campus Center Dining Hall, 99 Main St., Franklin. Parking is available in a lot next to the Campus Center and is accessible via Main Street and Route 140. Register by calling the Chamber at 508-222-0801, 508-528-2800 or 508-695-6011.

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit, business support organization serving the communities of Attleboro, Bellingham, Blackstone, Foxborough, Franklin, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Norton, Plainville, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Wrentham.

In the News: bell to toll, regional dispatch

Franklin church's bell to toll for victims

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Project manager chosen for Franklin-Wrentham regional dispatch center

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Thursday, December 20, 2012

DelCarte Property (video)

I made another stop along my run on Sunday to spend a couple of minutes enjoying the quiet at the DelCarte Property along Pleasant St.

DelCarte Property - Open Space in Franklin, MA

Two weeks ago I recorded a video and you can view that here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/delcarte-property-video.html

Town Council - 12/19/12

The Town Council recognized former Representative Jim Vallee with a Citizenship Award. The public hearing on the proposed revisions to the Site Plan and Design Review process drew the ire of several councilors. The motion was tabled, a subcommittee (Pfeffer, Jones and Bissanti) will meet with Jeff Nutting and the Planning and Community Development Dept to discuss potential revisions before the proposal comes back to the Council.

Jim Vallee receives award from Town Council Chair Bob Vallee

The collection of posts for the Town Council meeting can be found here

Dean College Quarterback Signs Letter of Intent to Play for Elon University

Trevor Vasey studying at Dean College

2012 freshman starting quarterback Trevor Vasey (Cumberland, RI) expects to compete for starting job at NCAA Division 1 Elon University

Franklin, MA (December 19, 2012) – Freshman Trevor Vasey, starting quarterback for the 2012 Dean College Bulldogs football team, today signed a letter of intent to play for National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 (Southern Conference) Elon University.

In 2012, Vasey led the Bulldogs to a winning record in the Northeast Football Conference of the National Junion College Athletic Association. Vasey earned the starting quarterback job as a freshman, easily leading the conference in passing yards with 1,848 and passing touchdowns with 15. Vasey completed 51% of his passes, averaging 231 yard per game. Vasey also rushed for one touchdown in the season.