Governor wants to hear citizens' viewsDate: 5/19/2009 By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
The governor wants to hear from you -- what would you cut from state government?
At his community forum conducted in Springfield on May 14, his representative, Secretary of Energy Ian Bowles, heard plenty: in light of a $5.4 billion budget deficit most people who spoke supported the idea of raising revenue through non-regressive taxes and wanted social services continued.
From May 11 through 21, the Patrick Administration conducted 36 community forums to determine if Massachusetts residents support his approach to the upcoming state budget and what their ideas are when it comes to cutting services and raising revenues.
At some of these events, Gov. Deval Patrick was present. At others, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray was there. Members of the governor's cabinet conducted the majority of the events.
Western Massachusetts had forums in Pittsfield and Westfield on May 12, Deerfield on May 13, Williamstown on May 15 and Amherst and Chesterfield on May 19.
There were about 20 people in attendance at the forum that was conducted at Springfield Technical Community College.
Bowles opened the session with a video from Patrick discussing the purpose of the forums, followed by a quick presentation with additional budget facts. Patrick's strategy includes reforms of state transportation expenses and pensions as well as ending abuses in lobbying. He has already cut 1,000 jobs from state government and proposed increases in taxes, such as the gas tax, with the revenues going to support specific programs.
Even if the cost of all state employees were eliminated, there would still be a budget gap, Bowles noted.
Bowles stressed that all of the remarks were being recorded and the governor and his cabinet would go over them.
Longmeadow School Committee member John Fitzgerald said that towns such as Longmeadow are "boxed in" by the limits placed by Proposition 2 1/2 and by decreasing state local aid funds. He would support an increase in the sales tax and wants to see a discussion on a revised graduated state income tax.
"We need some modern tools," he said.
Fellow Longmeadow School Committee member Gwendolyn Bruns also called for Proposition 2 1/2 reforms as towns struggle to fulfill unfunded educational mandates from the state and federal governments.
One concern from Sarah Page, Assistant Executive Director for Fund Development of HAP Inc., was that cuts in affordable housing and homelessness initiatives would create more homelessness and strain the already thin social services safety net.
She noted that proposed cuts in the rental voucher program would create more homeless people and the state spends about $3,000 a month to house a homeless person and only $592 a month to house the same person through the rental vouchers.
When asked by Bowles what revenue source Page would be willing to support, she replied, "Personally I'd be willing to pay more."
Michael Tuckey of Springfield believes the state should be able to find other ways to raise new revenue without hiking the gas tax. He also called for greater state support for local businesses and a program to attract businesses to the state.
"We need to show businesses that we care for them," he added.
Dean Snyder of Springfield described himself as a product of industry failing in Massachusetts as he had been laid off from a business that closed down. He is working again and he called for an increase in the meals tax and taxes on alcohol as well as taxes on luxury items.
Thomas Walling of Wilbraham told Bowles he remembered when the state had no sales tax and promises were made the Massachusetts Turnpike would be paid off -- and made free -- in 1982.
He called for more local controlled of state-funded programs.
"The credibility of the state has gone way down," Walling said. "People don't believe in what Boston says."
At the end of the session, Bowles called the remarks "remarkably helpful feedback."
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