The United Regional Chamber of Commerce | 42 Union Street | Attleboro | MA | 02703
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| Franklin Library Book Sale |
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| Parmenter school - car wash |
Yesterday, the Senate Ways & Means Committee unveiled its budget proposal for FY 2014, detailing how it would support vital state programs from Education and Health Care to Human Services, Public Safety, and beyond. Our new Budget Monitor describes the funding proposals, and also the mix of tax and non-tax revenue.
As was true for the House, the Senate Ways & Means proposal relies on some new money to help fix and improve our Transportation system. Beyond that, though, the investments specified in the proposal are fairly narrow--largely because they are constrained by the limited amount of available revenue. The Governor's budget had included a larger revenue package, which made possible a range of investments in education (pre-K through college) that would support the long-term needs of our economy.
Among the issues we discuss in our Budget Monitor:
Read our SENATE WAYS & MEANS BUDGET MONITOR
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| Charter School - Summer Fun |
The Friends of the SNETT (Southern New England Trunkline Trail) are hosting host trail-wide events for National Trails Day® on Saturday, June 1st. The Friends of the SNETT consists of representatives from all six SNETT towns (Franklin, Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Uxbridge and Douglas), as well as regional planning and state agencies. Our goal is to improve and promote the use of the trail.
Events may vary by town but include planting flowers and beautifying the trail entrance with the help of the public and the Boy and Girl Scouts, family friendly nature games, such as “I Spy Nature,” and both guided and non-guided trail walks.
"I just don’t feel comfortable (with the current staff levels), and I’m speaking for our citizens,'' he said. "I don’t want to play Russian roulette when something happens."
Semerjian assured Vallee that in the case of a major incident, the town would receive help quickly from neighboring departments. Also a regional SWAT team, if needed, could respond in under an hour.
The same staff woes face the fire department.
Its fiscal 2014 budget does not include Fire Chief Gary McCarraher’s request for four additional firefighters — the amount, he said, that the department needs in order to increase response times, fully staff its King Street quarters and reduce line-of-duty injuries.
"We are not even close to catching up," said DPW Director Robert Cantoreggi. "We are not even maintaining right now. Every year that goes by, the overall road condition deteriorates."
The town has a list of all of the roads that need repair. Those in the worst shape are toward the top.
Planning repairs a year to two years in advance, the DPW has managed to slowly chip away at the list. But there isn’t an unlimited source of funds. When the town uses up the state money, all that remains is whatever can be spared from its free cash.
Enjoy a day with your child at the Illusions Galore Magic Show on Sunday, May 19. 
