July 11, 2006
Dear Friend:

Over the weekend Governor Romney signed the fiscal year 2007 budget that the Massachusetts Legislature passed a couple weeks ago.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to relay to you its impact on the Town of Cohasset as well as a few additional highlights of the budget I think may interest you.

First, the final FY07 budget includes $1,552,631 in education funding for Cohasset – an increase of $332,008 over last year, an over 27% increase.

In addition, lottery aid will be fully uncapped, with all proceeds returned to the cities and towns. This means $468,094 to Cohasset in FY07, or $63,164 over last year.  That represents a 13.5% increase.  When all the components of local aid are added up, the effect of the FY07 budget will mean an $401,466 increase in local aid for Cohasset over last year.  That is a 22% increase.

In addition to the budget, you may remember that the Legislature also recently passed a fiscal year 2006 supplemental budget as well as a $457 million economic stimulus bill. 

While it had a few worthy components, I was the lone vote against the economic stimulus bill because I believe it contained too much pork and special interest funding that would be better spent on our cities and towns or left in our rainy day fund.  I did support the supplemental budget for fiscal year 2006 that contained important funding for my district, including Cohasset.

The supplemental budget contained an additional $55 million for local road and bridge spending via Chapter 90 funding.  The $55 million is on top of $120 million in capital authorizations already released to cities and towns for local road and bridge repair.    For its share, Cohasset received $128,942 earlier this year in FY07 Chapter 90 funds.  Funding for local road and bridge maintenance continues to be a top priority of mine and I was pleased we were successful in getting additional funding as well as getting the original funds released early to cities and towns, including Cohasset.

With beach conditions, coastal erosion and deteriorating seawalls a major problem in my district, I was pleased to report the supplemental budget also contains $5 million in cash reserve for emergency repairs to seawalls.  In addition, the FY07 budget includes an increase of $300,000 for the maintenance and staffing of beaches under the control of the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

I also wanted to make you aware of two important commissions I was recently appointed to regarding area beaches and seawalls.  I have been appointed to the Metropolitan Beaches Commission as well as the Coastal Hazards Commission (CHC).  Each has a distinct purpose and goal.  The Metropolitan beaches Commission was created to take a fresh look at the “State of our Beaches”, to determine what’s working well, and what is not, and to make specific recommendations for short, medium and long-term investments on our beaches, and to look for innovative strategies to enhance the value of these important assets.  With more than 1,500 miles of coastline, Massachusetts is vulnerable to the damaging impacts of northeasters and hurricanes, and experiences regular storm damage from even minor storms.  The Coastal Hazards Commission is charged with reviewing existing coastal hazards practices and policies, identifying data and information gaps, and drafting recommendations for administrative, regulatory, and statutory changes.  The CHC report will include a 20-year Coastal Infrastructure and Protection Plan, initially for the South Shore and ultimately for the entire Massachusetts coastline.

Some other important priorities included in the FY07 budget are:

• $21 million for Community Policing grants to cities and towns

• $25 million for the Sewer Rate Relief fund to help control the water and sewer bills of ratepayers throughout the Commonwealth

• $7.3 million for Councils on Aging grants – which we hope will be more after an override of the Governor’s $250,000 veto.

• $2.5 million for new fire safety equipment in cities and towns

• $1 million for the new Office of Dam Safety
  
   

Lastly, I am pleased to report to you that the new budget includes a provision allowing commuters to deduct Fast-Lane toll or monthly transit pass expenses from their state income taxes.  The deduction could be claimed by any Massachusetts resident who uses the Fast Lane system for the Massachusetts Turnpike, or for the Tobin Bridge or the Harbor tunnels, or an MBTA monthly pass for travel on the commuter rail, subway or buses.  A single or married person - filing a separate return or as head of household – would be eligible for the tax break if the amount spent on transportation costs exceeds $150 a year. The total amount deducted shall not exceed $750.

I am pleased the efforts to secure all the above funding and benefits for Cohasset and my constituents were successful.  Please know that I remain very aware of the difficulties facing municipal governments as a result of the economic slowdown.  We still have more work ahead of us, but I hope you’ll agree that these efforts are a big step forward. 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. I can be reached via e-mail at robert.hedlund@state.ma.us or at work at 617-722-1646.

Thank you for your attention.  Please know it is a real honor and pleasure to serve you in the Massachusetts Senate.

 

Sincerely,

Robert L. Hedlund
State Senator