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Dear Sharon Resident,
Thank you for the privilege of representing Sharon in the Massachusetts Senate. Allow me to provide an overview of state budget deliberations in preparation for your Fiscal Year 2009 municipal budget.
Governor Patrick recently released his Fiscal Year 2009 budget. This plan increases local aid by 5.12 percent over last year’s budget, and includes an increase of $223 million to Chapter 70 education aid. Considering the budget projects 3.8% baseline growth in the state’s tax revenue, this increase clearly demonstrates our commitment to cities, towns and schools.
Additional highlights in the Governor’s budget include:
- A 200% boost in early education funding
- Increased funding for new Municipal Police Grants by $4 million
- Significant investments in new economic development initiatives
- The highest funding level for the Department of Conservation and Recreation ever
Also, Senator Timilty, Representative Kafka and I recently voted to pass a Joint Local Aid Resolution containing good news for Sharon.
- Sharon will receive a $180,000 increase in Chapter 70 funding over last year. ($6,964,282 compared to $6,785,118 in FY08)
- Overall Local Aid to Sharon will increase as well surpassing the $9 million mark. ($9,117,998 compared to $8,916,999 in FY08)
In addition to our focus on the FY09 budget, there are developments to report relative to the Town of Sharon.
- As a result of recent legislative changes to the SBA formula the reimbursements for the Cottage and East Elementary School projects were accelerated.
- The net effect of these expedited payments is that homeowners in Sharon will get tax reductions earlier and save thousands in interest payments.
- Sharon has received over $7.8 million for its Main Street reconstruction project which entailed streetscape enhancements and landscaping to the downtown area. After state highway officials sought to delay the project in 2003, Rep. Kafka and I successfully pushed for the project to be prioritized. The project includes new traffic signal conduits, granite curbing and drainage work.
- Sharon received $75,000 for repairs to the Manns Pond Dam.
We continue our focus at the State House on strengthening the Massachusetts economy. These economic development initiatives are aimed at creating good jobs, fortifying our transportation infrastructure, increasing our affordable housing supply and ensuring quality, affordable health insurance for every resident.
The Senate approved a life sciences bill which provides $500 million in capital funding for life sciences construction and improvement projects and supports $250 million in tax incentives for life sciences companies that commit to job creation. We’ve already seen the positive results in my district as Organogenesis announced that it will add several hundred jobs (with an average salary of $77,000) and build its world headquarters in Canton.
We also passed a $1.35 billion housing bond bill that I authored with Representative Honan of Boston. This legislation will help develop and preserve a diverse housing stock throughout Massachusetts, and help meet the demand for affordable housing among seniors and the disabled while enabling more young families to stay in Massachusetts and strengthen our economy.
Earlier this month, the Senate approved legislation authorizing $150 million in local transportation aid and $2.4 billion in federal funds for road-and-bridge projects while also installing strict cost-containment reforms to help close the $15-billion to $19-billion transportation funding gap.
Maintaining and improving our transportation infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges we face in Massachusetts. By containing costs and insisting on accountability we generate greater confidence in the safety and durability of our roads, bridges and public transportation system.
The Senate also recently passed the next phase of the Commonwealth’s two-year-old health care reform with a package of new initiatives aimed at bringing down escalating health care costs and creating greater access to primary care.
This comprehensive plan seeks to build on the success we have had in Massachusetts ensuring access to quality, affordable health care for everyone. Spiraling costs threaten to derail our progress and this bill provides the tools needed to help contain them.
Together we face a tough economic outlook at the local, state and national level. I am very encouraged however by the commitment to economic development shown by my colleagues at the State House and the men and women serving their communities in town government. This is a partnership which will help Massachusetts weather the difficult challenges ahead.
I am happy to hear your thoughts and suggestions at my office (617-722-1643), home (617-696-0200) or by e-mail (BJoyce@senate.state.ma.us). Thank you for the continued opportunity to work on your behalf.
Sincerely,
BRIAN A. JOYCE
State Senator
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