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Governor says no tax ‘blockbusters’ in budget

Date: 1/17/2012

Jan. 18, 2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Deval Patrick said when it comes to taxes or fees, people shouldn’t expect to see anything new in his budget for fiscal year 2013.

“There are no blockbusters,” he said.

Patrick spoke about the budget at a press conference following a cabinet meeting at Mary A. Dryden Veterans Memorial School on Jan. 13.

Patrick said the new budget year is “challenging.”

“We’re still digging out of a deep, deep hole on account of the economic downturn. Massachusetts is doing very well, certainly when compared to other states, but we have some more distance yet to come,” the governor said.

Revenues are coming back, he noted, “but not as fast as they went away.” Although he sees another year of improvement, he expects demand for those state revenues to be strong, “especially for programs people depend upon because of the economic downturn.”

He said he would submit a balanced and “responsible” budget to the Legislature with investments in job creation programs, healthcare and education.

He said he would once again call on the Legislature to expand the state’s bottle bill to include a five-cent deposit on water, juice, energy drinks and sport drink containers.

Dryden was one of the two city schools damaged by the tornado and the status of economic development in the city following the June 1, 2011, tornado was the subject of the meeting.

Although Patrick didn’t give many details when he spoke to reporters after the meeting, according to a written statement, the meeting focused on eight “priority economic development issues,” that included rebuilding tornado impacted areas, Court Square redevelopment, the Union Station renovation, 1592 Main St. redevelopment, the Civic Center parking garage, further revitalization of the South End neighborhood, the proposed supermarket on State Street and the activities of DevelopSpringfield.

Patrick said he and his cabinet heard steps about not just how to rebuild after the tornado, but also plans that would “launch a new and exciting future” for Springfield.

He promised the state would be a partner in such endeavors and would provide financial support “as very best we can.”

Mayor Domenic Sarno praised the governor, the lieutenant governor and the cabinet as “great partners.”

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray said a recent study from the Brookings Institute listed the top 20 areas that are recovering best from the recession. Among those are Boston, Worcester and Springfield.

“I think it speaks to the resiliency we’ve seen in this community,” Murray said.

He added there is “great momentum here” and the cabinet discussed the projects that would keep the momentum moving.

In response to a question concerning whether or not after 30 years if Proposition 2 1/2 should be revisited, Patrick said he has sought ways to reduce municipalities’ dependence on property taxes, but that economic conditions in recent years have made that difficult.

“For me the issue is not about one [tax] or another tax. It’s about the system of taxation that we have, the different components of it,” Patrick said. “Hard and adult” conversations are needed to determine what services government should provide and how they can be funded, he added.



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