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Massachusetts State Budget

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Belmont Legislators React to Governor's $34.8 Billion Budget Proposal

The plan focuses on investments in transportation and education while calling for an income tax increase coupled with a lower sales tax.

Belmont's state legislators reacted cautiously to yesterday's announcement by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick of his budget outline in the coming fiscal year. In submitting his $34.8 billion budget to the Legislature Wednesday, Patrick said the proposed income tax hike is part of a comprehensive package aimed at investing in the state's infrastructure including increased spending for public transportation, education and in driving growth. "The Governor has advanced a plan to tackle two of our District's and the Commonwealth's greatest needs - transportation and education. For years, in part because of the deep recession, key investments in these vital areas have faltered," said Dave Rogers, state representative for the 24th Middlesex …

Nate

7:38 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013

How about pensions for those who work and not for politicians who are mostly lawyers and millionaires. State and local pensions are paid for by the employees just so you know.   more ›

Monday, July 2, 2012

Five Things to Know About The Proposed State Budget

The bill increases public aid by three percent while not raising taxes.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate overwhelming passed a $32.5 billion budget last week and Gov. Deval Patrick has until July 8 to review and sign it, or to issue vetoes.  The thrust of the bill is to shore up aid to public programs while at the same time not increasing the burden to taxpayers. Overall, the 2013 budget is about 3 percent higher than this year's, but considerably tighter than previous recent years. Here are some of the bill's highlights: 1. It includes no new taxes or fees. Instead, $516 million will be taken from existing funds, including $350 million from the state's rainy day fund, leaving it over a billion dollars in the black. Still, that's down from the $2.2 billion it had in 2008.  2. It tightens …

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