Karyn Polito - Precincts 1 and 4

March 9, 2010

STATEMENT OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE KARYN POLITO ON RESOLUTION BY LEGISLATIVE LEADERS REDUCING LOCAL AID TO CITIES AND TOWNS

“Democratic leaders on Beacon Hill dealt a heavy blow to already-struggling municipal budgets last week by announcing that they intend to cut local aid by 4 percent in FY2011, amounting to a reduction of $200 million. I am disappointed that the legislative leadership is attempting to balance this year’s state budget at the expense of cities and towns.

While the press release distributed by the House Speaker, Senate President and Ways and Means chairs last Friday purported to speak on behalf of the entire Legislature, the House and Senate do still get a chance to vote on this proposed resolution. When we do, I will stand up against this cut for cities and towns, advocate for at least level-funding the local aid account, and I will urge my colleagues to do the same.

Times are tough and spending cuts need to be made, but our cities and towns should not be the place we look to make sacrifices. We need to keep our commitment to provide resources to our communities so that they can, in turn, continue providing vital local services to the hard-working people of Massachusetts.”

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STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE KARYN POLITO ON GOVERNOR PATRICK’S FY-2011 BUDGET 

“Governor Patrick’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget is a missed opportunity to restore stability to our state’s finances and to make the sort of responsible decisions Massachusetts residents are relying upon to lead us out of this recession. You don’t have to look very deep into the Governor’s budget to see that his numbers don’t work. Governor Patrick is still relying on one-time revenue from the federal government and on savings from the Rainy Day Fund to pay our bills, and he’s betting on a hope that tax collections will suddenly reverse trend and pick up later this year. That’s a risky bet to make and it’s an unsustainable and unreliable way to spend money.”

State Rep. Karyn E. Polito, R-Shrewsbury, will hold office hours 9AM - 10:30AM on February 5 at Shrewsbury Senior Center, 98 Maple Ave., Shrewsbury and 11AM -12PM. on February 5 at Westborough Senior Center, 4 Rogers Rd., Westborough. Additionally, she will hold office hours from 9AM - 10AM on February 12 at Shrewsbury Towers, 36 N. Quinsigamond Ave., Shrewsbury. No appointment is necessary.

Office of Representative Karyn E. Polito
State House, Room 167
Boston, MA 02133

617-722-2230

HOUSE PASSES EDUCATION REFORM BILL

Bill will qualify the state to receive up to $250 million in additional funding

BOSTON – The House of Representatives has accepted the conference committee report allowing for passage of education reform for the first time in Massachusetts since 1993. The legislation will, among other things, qualify Massachusetts for up to $250 million in federal aid as part of President Barack Obama’s “Race to the Top Funding” initiative to improve the nation’s education system.

“We have reason to be proud of the quality public education in Shrewsbury and Westborough, but there are still some school districts in the state that underperform.  This bill targets those districts that need more work and makes more charter schools available across the Commonwealth.  I advocated strongly for higher reimbursements to sending school districts and am pleased that more dollars will be devoted to helping our school districts address their fixed costs.  Increased funding helps to level the playing field for our towns, although there is still more work to do in this area,” said Rep. Karyn E. Polito (R-Shrewsbury).

The bill will allow for a clear determination of what constitutes an underperforming and chronically underperforming school which will allow those schools, through enhanced administrative actions to turn themselves around. With regard to the charter school funding formula, the final bill includes language which calls for a new charter reimbursement schedule of 225% over a six year period with 100% in the first year followed by five years at 25%.  Polito had proposed an increase to 305% over six years, based on recommendations from the Mass. Association of Superintendents.

Furthermore, the final bill includes language requiring DESE to conduct a study of the “status of the public education financing system,” and an analysis of funding discrepancies between a school or district’s funding and their actual needs. It also requires reductions in regional transportation to be no greater than proportional to reductions to Chapter 70 dollars.

The House and Senate enacted the bill which will now be sent to Governor Patrick for signature.