MassBudget: A first take on the Governor's budget

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. A First Take on the Governor's Budget The budget proposed by the Governor today has some bright spots, including an increase in the earned income tax credit that will improve the economic security of lower income working families, and additional resources aimed at reducing opioid misuse and expanding prevention efforts. The budget does not, however, propose significant new investments to strengthen our economy and expand opportunity such as by improving our local schools, making higher education substantially more affordable or fixing our roads and public transportation systems. MassBudget will publish a detailed examination of this budget next week. Based on our first look, these are a few of the more significant elements proposed by the Governor's budget: Education Increases Chapter 70 local aid for education by $103.6 million or 2.2 percent. Also proposes an additional $15 million for districts that recently enrolled Puerto Rican or US Virgin Islands students. Provides essentially level funding for Early Education and Care, after accounting for inflation. The nominal increase is $13.9 million, or 2.4 percent, over the current FY 2018 budget. Leaves total higher education funding essentially flat once accounting for inflation. Direct support for the University of Massachusetts, State University, and Community College campuses increases by $13.9 million (1.4 percent), but this is insufficient to keep up with inflation. The budget adds $7.1 million to the MASSGrant program, which the administration describes as the amount needed to cover "all unmet need for students to cover tuition and fees at the Commonwealth's 15 community colleges." This $7.1 million represents a doubling of state scholarship funding for community colleges, but it is not clear if this is intended to make community college more affordable while holding enrollment constant, or to increase access to community college, or a combination of both. MassHealth and Health Reform Aims to hold down MassHealth costs with two significant initiatives: Approximately 140,000 adults (without disabilities) with incomes between 100 to 138 percent of the federal poverty level would lose MassHealth coverage, and would instead be eligible for subsidized commercial health insurance on the Health Connector. The Administration anticipates this change would generate $60 million net in FY 2019 and $120 million annually thereafter because of the federal subsidies available for commercial insurance for low-income people under the Affordable Care Act. It is not clear, however, how this shift will affect cost-sharing and premiums for these low-income adults. The Governor, does, however, intend to expand dental coverage for some of these individuals. The Governor proposes two initiatives to reign in pharmaceutical costs: one to improve the state's ability to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers; and an exclusion of specific high-cost medications from the MassHealth formulary. This latter proposal still requires federal approval. Mental Health and Public Health Continues the commitment to increased services for behavioral health and funding to address the state's opioid crisis. The Governor's budget proposes an increase in funding for adult mental health services, to expand treatment at the community level for adults with serious mental health needs. The Governor's budget also proposes increased funding for treatment and prevention of substance misuse, including increased funding for treatment and prevention within the Department of Public Health. Disability services Increases funding for the Turning 22 Program slightly, from a combined $37.3 million to $39.1 million, or about 4.9 percent. The Turning 22 Program funds services for eligible young adults with disabilities who have graduated from special education and includes funding across three different departments. Increases funding for Autism Omnibus Services, which provides services to people with autism spectrum disorders by 36 percent, from $13.3 million to $18.1 million. Housing Provides $2.7 million to implement the Housing Choice program, which encourages cities and towns to increase housing development, and increases the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program by $4.7 million. According to documents accompanying the budget, this increase would allow the state to create more than 200 additional supportive housing vouchers for low-income renters. Local Aid Unrestricted General Local Aid would increase to $1.099 billion, a $37.2 million (3.5 percent) increase, which is less than FY 2017's 3.9 percent increase of $39.9 million. Revenue Expands the state's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to increase the amount by which it matches the federal EITC from 23 to 30 percent of the federal amount. This is a refundable tax credit for low-income workers to increase the after-tax rewards from work. It is available to tax filers with earned income and provides benefits primarily to workers with children. The new federal tax law would erode the increase in value of the EITC over time by using a slower growth factor for inflation. A body of research has shown that in addition to encouraging people to work, the EITC improves health outcomes for mothers and children, boosts children's academic performance, and improves their future earning potential. By increasing Massachusetts's state match rate of this federal program, the Commonwealth would be on par with New York's match, but below other states such as Vermont, New Jersey, and California. The proposed increase would begin January 1, 2019. The cost will be about $65 million per year, beginning in 2020, when people pay their 2019 income taxes. Extends the state's 5 percent room occupancy tax paid by hotels and motels to include short-term housing rentals, including those rented on online platforms such as Airbnb. This is similar to the Governor's previous proposals in earlier years. It would apply only to rooms rented 150 or more nights per year and is estimated to generate $13 million in additional state revenue. Localities would also be empowered to charge their own tax of up to 6 percent (6.5 percent for Boston). Companies like Airbnb would be able to enter voluntary agreements to collect these taxes on behalf of the state. For more information on Airbnb and Massachusetts state taxes, see MassBudget's July 2016 fact sheet. 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 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today MassBudget: A first take on the Governor's budget

Code to the Future - Scratch Video Game Design Class

A Kid's Corner Program

_____________________________________________ The PERFECT GIFT FOR YOUR  CHILD /GRANDCHILD ************************************ CODE TO THE FUTURE  VIDEO GAME DESIGN  IS BACK! REGISTRATION OPEN NOW for Spring 2018 REGISTER TODAY $110 Grades 3 and 4 3:30-4:30 PM Grades 5 and 6 4:45-5:45 PM Beginning Thursday Feb. 8 at Franklin High School 218 Oak Street Franklin Public Schools            Lifelong Learning Institute Lifelong Community Learning Brenda Reed, Director LCL@franklinps.net 508-613-1480

FPS - Lifelong Learning Institute, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lcl@franklinps.net in collaboration with Try it free today

Good government community meeting Jan 27 at the Franklin library

Warren Reynolds writes:

"On this Saturday, January 27, all Franklin residents are invited to be at the new community room of the recently expanded Franklin Public Library at 10 AM to attend an intriguing presentation and discussion session concerning how to work constructively with town officials to help make Franklin’s municipal government function more effectively and transparently.

The Milford Daily News in a recent article about the upcoming event, quoted meeting co-originator Alan Earls as stressing the supportive, non-confrontational content planned for this session:

“We don’t want it to be an ‘us versus them’ thing at all,” he said. “I realize (town officials) also have a really big challenge in working with the town, because many of us don’t know a lot of what happens, and how it works.”

Continue reading the article by Warren on his page 02038.com
https://02038.com/2018/01/good-government-meeting-jan-27/

Related post
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/01/franklin-town-government-101-jan-27.html

Franklin Town Government 101 - Jan 27

Live Reporting: Town Administration Report to Closing of meeting

K. Town Administrator's Report	K. Town Administrator's Report Town recognized for saving approx $60K  Cherry sheet came out today, off approx $25K awaiting for health insurance numbers, so maybe mid-February should be ready to talk budget
L. Future Agenda Items	L. Future Agenda Items none
M. Council Comments	M. Council Comments Pellegri - listening to the Audit report good position and audit, should give thanks to the Administration and they good work go Pats! Jones - reading letter from Middlesex Savings Bank on $50K for the grant program (full letter to be posted later) Golden Rain Drop Award for Brutus Cantoreggi for his work in storm water
N. Executive Session	N. Executive Session - None Scheduled
O. Adjourn	O. Adjourn motion to adjourn, second, passed 9-0

Live reporting: Subcommittee reports - Legislation for Action

I. Subcommittee Reports	I. Subcommittee Reports 1. Capital discussed Schools, IT and Facilities 2. Budget meeting mid-Feb 3. EDC meeting 1/31
J. Legislation for Action	J. Legislation for Action 1. Resolution 18-01 - Acceptance of Gifts - Council on Aging (Motion to Move Resolution 18-01 - Majority Vote (5)) motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 2. Resolution 18-02 - Acceptance of Gifts - Franklin Police Department (Motion to Move Resolution 18-02 - Majority Vote (5)) motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 3. Resolution 18-03 - Local Adoption of G.L. Chapter 64N, Section 3, as Amended: Local Tax on Marijuana Retail Sales and Establishment of Tax rate (Motion to Move Resolution 18-03 - Majority Vote (5)) motion to raise original rate from 2% to 3% based upon change in State regulations discussion on difference between Fed and State regulations, if we ever get some money that may or may not be an issue. The situation is still up in air. In the meantime, this prepares us to obtain 3% on sales if they occur.  motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 4. Bylaw Amendment 18-798: Chapter 155, Streets and Sidewalks - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 18-798 to a 2nd Reading - Majority Vote (5)) discussion to add to second reading phrasing on the clean up to include a reimbursement of expenses if the DPW needs to do the cleanup motion to move to 2nd reading, seconded, passed 9-0 5. Bylaw Amendment 18-799: Chapter 82, Fees, Appendix B - Sewer Rates - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 18-799 to a 2nd Reading - Majority Vote (5)) effective for bill issued July 1 2018 and there after approx 10% increase, amounting to an increase of about $40/year. First sewer rate increase increase in 5 years, mostly due to the increased assessment from Charles River due to the improvement project they did likely another increase in 5 years depending upon what is to be done with the Beaver St connector necessary but feel awful to do so but the cost of goods just continues to go up motion to move to 2nd reading, seconded, passed 9-0 6. Bylaw Amendment 18-800: Chapter 82, Fees, Appendix B - Water Rates - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 18-800 to a 2nd Reading - Majority Vote (5)) prior rate increase in 2012, several items (i.e projects) to be completed including $15.5M capital improvements required over the next several years; possibly back in three years for another increase for some of the capital improvements add a map or additional description of the wells and locations at least a couple of years before this proposed plant could come online regulations did increase along the way motion to move to 2nd reading, seconded, passed 9-0

Live reporting: Audit Report - FY 2017

H. Presentations/Discussions

H. Presentations/Discussions 1. 2017 Audit

Zake Bentrous (?) 

overall theme - Town is in good financial shape, no major issues

pages 4-12 is the narrative summary

page 13 specific items

statement of net positions

assets increased by about $4M due to the library renovation work

OPEB line changes from this year to next year for accounting purposes

GASB statement 75, full liability needs to be recorded as opposed to over a 30 year period.

last page

will jump from $54M to approx $69M next year

p 15

assigned dropped by $800K (due to the turf field replacements)

unassigned fund balances $10M (bond rating agencies like to see) 9.24% of total

p 19

$1.79M favorable revenues over forecast

$1.13M favorable expenses vs. forecast

$2.9 beat budget (next years free cash)

p 23

$3.3M funding for OPEB

Thanks to all the Town for their help in conducting the audit

Live reporting: Town Council - Jan 24, 2018

Present: Hamblen, Casey, Dellorco, Mercer, Kelly, Jones, Padula, Pellegri, Eamons
Absent: none

Agenda Item	Summary
A. Approval of Minutes	A. Approval of Minutes 1. December 13, 2017 motion to approve, second, passed 9-0 2. December 20, 2017 motion to approve, second, passed 9-0
B. Announcements	B. Announcements This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may also be recorded by others.
C. Proclamations/Recognitions	C. Proclamations/Recognitions
D. Citizen Comments	D. Citizen Comments - Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the Agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and  may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter. Raye Lynn Mercer Joe Landry sharing photos and videos 246 years ago succeeded from Wrentham, Feb 16 set up like a museum, sports in one area tiered ticketing process based upon years in Town Franklin Trivia, if you pass the test, you get your ticket refunded at THE BLACK BOX to benefit the arts in Franklin 7:00 PM to 11 PM, bar open Teresa Burr, Town Clerk announcement and reminder on town census sent in email; return address is incorrect please send it to the proper Town address
E. Appointments	E. Appointments
F. Hearings	F. Hearings
G. License Transactions	G. License Transactions 1. Table and Vine Inc. - Change of Manager motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0