Monday, January 28, 2013
Peabody, along with many other cities and towns, would see an increase in local aid under Gov. Patrick's proposed budget.
Under the governor's budget plan for Fiscal 2014, Peabody, along with many other cities and towns, would get a decent bump in state aid. We're talking around 2 percent, in fact. According to local aid budget documents available on the state's website, Peabody is due to receive $25.48 million in total aid from the state by the close of Fiscal 2013 in June. The figures for FY14, however, total at $26 million. That's still about $3.5 million shy, however, of what Peabody received back in 2007, which has steadily decreased each year since then except for in FY2012. The increase of $523,873 for FY2014 would be evenly split between education and general government aid. The Chapter 70 allotment is slated for a $153,725 increase, along with $86,…
Peabody could see more state money if legislators approve the Fiscal 2014 budget proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick, but that's not a given at this point.
Within the ambitious state budget proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick last week, which seeks to focus on education and transportation funding, Peabody is slated to get a 2 percent increase in state aid. State Rep. Ted Speliotis (D-Danvers), who also represents West Peabody, called it a "good bump," but also warned that it may be a "tease" from Patrick, who is hoping to get legislators to approve a proposed increase in the income tax and so-called "sin taxes" on candy and cigarettes. Given the still sluggish state of the economy and job growth, he argues now is not the right time to raise taxes. New state Sen. Joan Lovely briefly addressed the proposed budget on Friday at a forum of North Shore small business owners. She was noncommittal in her …
Thursday, December 6, 2012
City officials are still concerned with any cut to local aid, but say the proposal from the governor to trim unrestricted local aid mid-year would have a minimal affect on Peabody's budget.
While much ado is being made at the state level on proposed emergency budget cuts to local aid for cities and towns, the net effect in Peabody will likely be minimal, according to city finance officials. The cut, while unwelcome, may only amount to about $56,000 in unrestricted local aid within a city budget of $140 million for Fiscal 2013. "Anytime there are cuts to local aid that affect the city budget, they are a concern," said Mayor Ted Bettencourt Wednesday. "It will have an impact on Peabody, regardless of the number." Finance Director Patricia Schaffer said her understanding is that only general government aid would be trimmed by 1 percent under the governor's plan, not the $25.5 million Peabody received for local aid as a whole, …
Kathleen
1:46 pm on Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Mr Atkins is R I G H T O N !!!!!!!!!!!! more ›