Updated: Town Administrator Says Chapter 70 Funding Hopes Dim

The Legislature does not seem to support the governor's proposed $700,000 increase for Swampscott. Rep. Lori Ehrlich says it remains to be seen what the final budget will provide for education.

  What was once promising news for education funding in Swampscott — Chapter 70 dollars — now looks far less promising. On Wednesday night Town Administrator Tom Younger told selectmen the House and Senate do not appear to support funding the town at 17.5 percent of foundation funding — the minimum amount needed to educate students in a town. Gov. Deval Patrick had proposed a $700,000 increase for Swampscott in his proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget, thereby bringing the town to the foundation level. But the House and Senate look as if the best they would do for Swampscott is a $190,000 increase, leaving the town about $500,000 short of the $700,000 threshhold, he said. And the town may receive less than the $190,000 increase; maybe no …

• Photos (1)

Will Patrick's $1.9 Billion Tax Hike Pass?

The governor's optimistic but state legislators don't sound so sure. Does the education funding included in the plan for Swampscott sway your thoughts about the budget?

Governor Deval Patrick is still bullish about his budget proposal, which will raise $1.9 billion in new revenue through an increase in the income tax, decrease in the sales tax, and other changes to taxes, fees and deductions. The budget also includes a local aid proposal that would bring Swampscott to the long promised 17.5 percent of foundation funding — the minimum amount needed to educate students in a town. Without that 17.5 percent of foundation funding, Swampscott school officials say they will have to reduce the number of teachers, increase class sizes and cut librarians, and take other cost-trimming actions.   Under Gov. Deval Patrick's Fiscal Year 2014 budget Swampscott would receive $3.47 million in Chapter 70 funding. That's up…

•  5 Comments
• Photos (2)

Are You Worried the Sequester Will Affect You?

Massachusetts is chock full of defense contractors, federal employees and federal program beneficiaries. Are you worried the U.S. budget sequester will hurt your family's finances?

The U.S. government has a week before its self-imposed sequestration deadline. If enacted, the across-the-board cuts to the federal budget could mean layoffs, decreased aid and lower government spending.  That could mean trouble for some popular government programs, such as Social Security and Medicare. Defense contractors are also preparing for lost and reduced contracts with the government.  Locally, it could also doom smaller programs that have a big impact. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps families in need pay for home heating oil and other energy costs. Massachusetts stands to lose over $11 million in assistance under this one program alone. Representatives Ed Markey and Jim McGovern are trying to shield the program…

•  58 Comments
• Photos (1)

Michael Alsup

4:37 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013

Harry, WHile we cannot AFFORD to continue as a Nation of Working Class people pay for The 2 party 2 House System wtith limited or No Result and keep a nation Strong CAN We afford to "clean House " & to pay their Retirement and washing of Washintonian Hands and GUARENTEED bythat action NO Action No Change. Not on My Childrens Backs . Do you drive the Abe Lincholn Car or does it drive U   more ›

How Far Would You Go on the North Shore for the Cheapest Gas?

Gas prices have spiked on the North Shore in the past month. That got us wondering: Where is the cheapest gas on the North Shore, and how far out of your way would you drive to buy it?

If you've filled up recently on the North Shore, you probably noticed gas prices are spiking. AAA Southern New England said its survey of prices in Massachusetts on Tuesday found self-serve, regular unleaded averaging $3.77 per gallon in the Boston metro area. That's a nickel higher than a week ago and up 30 cents over the past month. That got us thinking: Where on the North Shore is the cheapest gas? Depending on where you live, how far would you drive to buy it? Using Mapquest data, we found the lowest price in North Shore Patch towns to be Concord Gas in Danvers, which charged $3.49 on Tuesday. Highest was Lynnfield, where you'd shell out $3.80 a gallon at the Mobil. Of course if you belong to clubs like Costco or BJs, you can sometimes…

•  17 Comments
• Photos (1)

Larger Classes and Teacher Cuts Loom if Governor's Budget Fails

Schools would have to cut more than $1 million in projected spending.

  Under a worst case scenario in the coming school year, Swampscott would have to increase elementary class sizes and cut the librarian positions at the high school and middle school. It would require other cuts, as well, including two special education positions and two task management positions at the high school. In total, the district would have to reduce spending by $1,012,399 to operate with a level-funded budget — the same amount of money as this year: $24,305,000. Superintendent Lynne Celli told the School Committee earlier this month that town funding for the district in 2013-14 was at the same level as this year's funding. The superintendent, principals, the business manager, and others consulted on the budget, arriving at cuts …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (4)

Derek

1:45 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Excellent point(s) Chris! "Mismanagement" is the buzzword for this town and a good deal of it starts with the school system itself. I wasn't born and raised here so I have the fortunate perspective of living in other communities and seeing it done better than here. It's going to be an interesting year!   more ›

Representative Concerned About Governor's Budget

But State Rep. Lori Ehrlich does appreciate Gov. Patrick's proposed investment in schools and transportation.

  State Rep. Lori Ehrlich has questions and reservations about Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal to generate $1.9 billion in revenue through hikes and reductions to taxes, eliminating deductions and doubling exemptions. But she does appreciate his desire to invest in education and transportation. Ultimately, the devil is in the details. And it will be the job of legislators "to figure out what is urgent, aspirational and inadvisable." "There is time to sort this all out and quite a bit of process ahead," she said. "The governor's proposal will be closely scrutinized by the legislature and throughout that process I welcome feedback from constituents." The governor's $34.8 billion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2014 would invest hundreds of …

• Photos (2)

Governor Proposes Cuts: What They'd Mean for Swampscott

Town Administrator Tom Younger weighs in on the reductions.

  In anticipation of the “fiscal cliff” combined with projected tax revenues that are more than half a billion dollars lower than previously expected, Gov. Deval Patrick released a revised budget designed to deal with the gap Tuesday. Among the items being proposed is an across-the-board 1 percent cut to towns and cities in Massachusetts — or $9 million — in the current fiscal year's local aid package. This cut would need legislative approval. Additional lottery proceeds could make the reduction unnecessary. There is no definitive timeframe for action on the local aid reduction legislation. Still, many in the House eye such cuts as a last resort. “I will join my colleagues in reviewing the proposal filed by the Governor yesterday and …

• Photos (1)

School Committee Considers Raising Sports Fees

The proposed fees are part of the 2012-13 school budget, which goes to a public hearing at the high school in March.

  The School Committee is considering raising the high school sports playing fees by $50 next year to $300. The fees would remain capped at $1,250 a year per family. And families that can demonstrate they cannot afford the fees will be reviewed on a case by case basis by High School Principal Layne Millington. The fee increase would generate the $30,000 the athletic department says it needs because the current budget of $185,000 is not enough to cover the cost of running the sports programs, including four new varsity sports, Budget Director Ed Cronin told the committee. Several years ago, the athletic department budget was cut by $50,000. Cronin and Millington said the athletic budget has had to be subsidized for several years. The …

•  11 Comments
• Photos (1)

Big Blue Sports

Poll: Do You Support Sports Fee Increase?

The proposal to boost fees by $50 would cover the athletic programs' funding shortfall.

The School Committee is considering raising the high school sports playing fees by $50 next year to $300. The fees would remain capped at $1,250 a year per family. And families that can demonstrate they cannot afford the fees will be reviewed on a case by case basis by High School Principal Layne Millington. The fee increase would generate the $30,000 the athletic department says it needs because the current budget of $185,000 is not enough to cover the cost of running the sports programs, including four new varsity sports, Budget Director Ed Cronin told the committee.

• Photos (1)