Rooke asks for meeting with House

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD City Councilor Timothy Rooke is continuing his effort to try to leverage the $75 million the state owes the city for busing school children to relive the city of its $52 million debt to the state.

Rooke is working with State Rep. Thomas Petrolati to set up a meeting with House Speaker Salvatore Dimasi about a deal that would repay the loan without the city actually losing any funds.

Since 1973, the Commonwealth has required the city to bus school children to achieve racial integration of the city's schools. Rooke said the state was supposed to reimburse the city for the cost of the busing, but has not because repayment had to be requested in the form of legislation sponsored by a member of the Springfield delegation.

Rooke said that, to this date, he knows of no such effort to try to retrieve these funds. He said he began asking about the busing money when he was a member of the Finance Control Board.

With the first $8 million repayment installment looming, Rooke is concerned about the impact the payment will have on the city's fragile finances.

He said that regional school systems receive state money for busing.

Besides the lack of reimbursement of the busing costs, the Legislature's decision to hold back part of the money that was to be returned to cities and towns from state lottery income also has hampered Springfield's recovery. Rooke said that reductions of lottery income in 2004, 2005 and 2006 cost the city about $7 million. The funds held back by the Legislature were used in the state's general fund, he said.

One source for additional income for the city in the future is proposed legislation from State Rep. Bradley Jones, Rooke said. Jones has filed a bill for municipal relief, that, if passed, would give Springfield an additional $21 million, Rooke said,

Rooke said that he has also had several conversations with Secretary for Administration and Finance Leslie Kirwin concerning the busing money and the city's finances. He said she is the city's "biggest ally."