Auditor Bump: Unfunded Mandate Costs Waltham over $200,000

Declares Education and Transportation for Homeless Children a State Obligation. Audit comes at request of Rep. Thomas Stanley.

 

Rep. Stanley, in a letter to Auditor Bump sent in September, asked the state auditor's office to examine the transportation costs of non-resident students, and question whether Waltham's transportation costs are an unfunded mandate. According to Chapter 29, Section 27C of Massachusetts General Law, which requires that local mandates that impose new costs on municipalities must either be fully funded by the state or be subject to voluntary local acceptance, Rep. Stanley believes that this is an unfunded mandate imposed on Waltham and its taxpayers.

 

As a result, State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump said that Waltham's school system paid more than $200,000 over the last two years to meet a federal requirement that it transport and educate homeless children.   Rep. Stanley, who is a member of the Ways and Means Committee, will work with Auditor Bump to advocate on behalf of legislation to appropriate more funds locally to help cover the skyrocketing costs.  Click here to read a related article on boston.com.
 

Rep. Stanley has previously filed legislation and budget amendments that would reimburse school districts for the costs associated with transporting nonresident pupils. Waltham has graciously been a host community to many homeless families from across the Commonwealth, and is currently shouldering the financial burden of transporting the children of these families back to their home communities to receive their education, as is required.

 

Rep. Stanley Attends Financial Literacy Trust Fund Board of Trustees Meeting

 

Rep. Stanley attended the first Financial Literacy Trust Fund Board of Trustees meeting, which was held in Treasurer Steve Grossman's office.  The purpose of the Fund is to provide and encourage financial literacy and education for residents, educational institutions, community organizations and other entities that will promote financial literacy throughout the Commonwealth. The Fund will accept private donations, publicly or privately funded grants and funds appropriated by the state or federal government. The funds will be used exclusively to advance its mission of encouraging financial literacy and education throughout the state.

 

Rep. Stanley's financial literacy bill, An Act Establishing a Financial Literacy Curriculum, was redrafted and attached to the other financial literacy bills assigned to the Education committee. The new bill is S. 1994, An Act Concerning Personal Financial Literacy In Schools, and it was reported favorably by the Education Committee and referred to the Committee on Senate Ways and Means.  Rep. Stanley's legislation will require that public schools teach a financial literacy curriculum developed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to cover consumer financial education, personal finance and personal credit.

 

Rep. Stanley Attends 2013 Consensus Revenue Hearing

 

As a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Rep. Stanley attended the fiscal year 2013 Consensus Revenue Hearing on Monday, December 12, in Gardener Auditorium at the State House.

 

The annual hearing hosted by the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means offers committee members the opportunity to solicit testimony from experts with knowledge of state finance and revenue.  This hearing is the first step to reaching a consensus revenue estimate which will be used to build a responsible FY '13 budget.    Invitees to testify at the hearing before Committee included Amy Pitter, Commissioner of the Department of Revenue, Treasurer Grossman, Paul Sternburg of the State Lottery, members of the Beacon Hill Institute and the Massachusetts Tax Payers Association, as well as Professors of Economics, Public Policy, and Public Affairs from area universities.

 

Rep. Stanley Attends MAGIC Breakfast

 

Rep. Stanley recently attended the Minuteman Advisory Group of Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC) Annual Legislative Breakfast at The Lexington Historical Society.  MAGIC, a regional planning group, includes local officials from Acton, Bedford, Bolton, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Stow and Sudbury. The group organizes trainings and forums to address transportation, environmental, open space, affordable housing, planning, legislative, and economic issues. MAGIC is a sub region of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Metro Boston's regional planning agency.

 

 

Collage of photos from the MAGIC Breakfast 

 

State Doubles Funding for Housing Tax Credits

 

As part of the supplemental budget passed in October, Massachusetts will double its funding for low-income housing tax credits, exceeding the amount of federal credits used within the state.  The federal government provides $14.2 million in federal tax credits in Massachusetts, according to Novogradac & Company, a certified public accountant company based in CA.  MA will increase its tax credits from $10 million to $20 million for two years, ending June 30, 2014. The low income housing tax credit (LIHTC) creates affordable housing units, creates jobs and stimulates local economies.  Since 1986, most LIHTC developments throughout the U.S. have been funded by banks and other major companies seeking federal tax breaks. In 1999, MA launched its own tax credit program.

 

State to Certify First Income Tax Reduction

 

For the first time in 10 years, on January 1, 2012, the MA income rate will be reduced.  Officials from the Department of Revenue (DOR) plan to certify the tax cut today, providing residents with an estimated $111 million to $117 million in annual tax relief.  The DOR states that the current 5.3 percent rate will decrease to 5.25 percent on Jan. 1, 2012 because state tax collections rose at a sufficient rate to trigger the reduction.

 

Governor Patrick Signs Transgender Equal Rights Bill

 

Governor Patrick signed H.3810, "An Act Relative to Gender Identity," historic legislation to legally protect transgender individuals from discrimination in housing, education, employment and credit. The new law, signed at the State House, also provides additional civil rights and protections from hate crimes.

 

The transgender equal rights law will make Massachusetts the 16th state to treat transgender citizens as a protected class. The law modifies language in Massachusetts statute to protect all individuals from discrimination, regardless of gender identities. This change will create equal protections for transgender individuals seeking employment, housing, credit and education. There are approximately 33,000 transgender residents living in Massachusetts.  However, the law will make no changes to bathroom attendance requirements that already exist  

 

The new law will also increase the state's ability to prosecute criminal conduct in the form of hate crimes against transgender individuals, a community that has historically experienced disproportionate levels of harassment and violence.

 

Gov. Patrick Signs Expanded Gaming Legislation

 

On November 22, 2011, Gov. Patrick signed H. 3807, "An Act Establishing Expanded Gaming in the Commonwealth," legislation that will advance job creation and economic development in the Commonwealth by creating the potential for thousands of jobs in the construction, tourism, hospitality, leisure and convention sectors.  

 

The legislation signed by the Governor allows for up to three destination resort casinos in geographically-diverse locations, along with one slots facility, competitively awarded statewide.  The three potential resort casinos will be located in three geographically-distinct areas, with up to one facility in Region A (Suffolk, Middlesex, Essex, Norfolk and Worcester counties), up to one facility in Region B (Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin and Berkshire counties) and up to one facility in Region C (Bristol, Plymouth, Nantucket, Dukes and Barnstable counties). The licensing fee for each casino will be at least $85 million and capital investment, including a hotel facility, must be at least $500 million. The Commonwealth will receive 25 percent of gross gaming revenues from each casino.  The collected revenues would be used to fund essential state and local services. This bill will fuel our economy as we continue to emerge from this recession and deliver immediate local aid for cities and towns.

 

Potential 2012 Ballot Questions

 

In 2012, voters may have to opportunity to vote on four policy issues come election time.  The ballot may include questions on legalizing marijuana for chronically ill and suffering patients, permitting certain terminally ill residents to self-administer life-ending medication and forcing auto dealers to send diagnostic information to repair shops.  All ballot campaigns are requires to collect 68,911 valid signatures and file them with city and town clerks. After a successful signature campaign, Massachusetts lawmakers have six months to support their own versions of the proposals if they wish to prevent them from moving toward the ballot.

 

Restaurant Group Wants Meals Tax Holiday

 

The Restaurant and Business Alliance is lobbying for a meals tax holiday, a repeal on the ban of education dinners for doctors and an extension of the movie tax credit to catering services as methods to help the restaurant industry. According to the Restaurant and Business Alliance, the hospitality industry which makes up roughly 10 percent of the Massachusetts workforce, has lost over 7,000 jobs from August to October. Many of those trends are often attributed to seasonal fluctuations in tourism.

 

House Advances Dec. 26 Alcohol Sales Bill

 

The House passed legislation to enable package stores in MA to open on Monday, Dec. 26, removing one of the last remaining colonial-era Blue Laws restricting alcohol sales. Current state law requires package stores to close on Monday when Christmas falls on a Sunday, meaning that package stores this year would need to stay closed for two consecutive days. The bill now heads to the Senate.

 

State Forms College/Career Readiness Task Force

 

A new 30-member task force will make recommendations by June 2012 on ways to better integrate college and career readiness principles into K-12 education in Massachusetts. The task force will meet five times over the next six months.  Task force members include Worcester Polytechnic Institute President Dennis Berkey, City of Boston Office of Jobs and Community Services Director Conny Doty, Sovereign Bank chief of staff Carlos Garcia, Katie Gray of the Massachusetts School Counselors Association, and Massachusetts Department of Career Services Director George Moriarty.

 

The Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation Offers Tips on S&H Fees

 

After a review of dozens of shipping and handling fee rules for retailers at the onset of the holiday shopping season, the Office of Consumer Affairs has identified some of the most frequent ways retailers use those fees to add to a consumer's bottom line.  The Office of Consumer Affairs checked 50 retailers, mixing traditional department stores, online-only retailers, and television infomercial-style items. In reviewing the shipping and handling rules, the Office identified six issues consumers should be aware of before making a purchase.  Please click here to learn more.

 

MassWildlife Offers Calendar of Events

 

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) is responsible for the conservation - including restoration, protection and management - of fish and wildlife resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.   The Division works to balance the needs of people and wildlife today so wildlife will be available for everyone's enjoyment today and for future generations.  To learn more about DFW events across the Commonwealth, such as wildlife-related workshops, talks, walks or demonstrations, please click here.

 

MassDEP, Massachusetts Food Association Announce Reduction in Disposable Shopping Bag Use

 

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Massachusetts Food Association (MFA) announced that a joint initiative with the grocery and supermarket industry to reduce the number of disposable paper and plastic shopping bags distributed in Massachusetts has achieved excellent results during the first three years - a reduction of 33 percent since 2007.

 

As part of the voluntary initiative, 12 supermarket chains, comprised of 384 stores representing more than two-thirds of the industry in Massachusetts, have been participating in the effort by tracking annual paper and plastic bag usage. Participating chains reported a 33 percent reduction in disposable bag distribution in Massachusetts since 2007. The goal of the initiative is a reduction of at least 33 percent by 2013.

 

Minority Business Development Agency Center Opens

 

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center in Boston recently held a grand opening to highlight the importance of supporting minority businesses and entrepreneurs in the Commonwealth.  The MBDA Business Center-Boston, operated by the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC), has three primary goals: (1) to work with minority business enterprises to identify procurement opportunities with large public and private sector organizations with the goal of increasing minority business enterprise vendor outcomes by over $100 million a year; (2) to assist minority business enterprises in identifying and accessing sources of debt, equity and angel financing to accommodate their growth and success; and (3) to create and retain jobs in women and minority-owned businesses.  MBDA Boston joins a nationwide network of MBDA Business Centers that provide assistance to local minority entrepreneurs by offering strategic business consulting services focusing on large public and private contracts, financing, and access to global markets.

 

Committee Endorses Education Collaboratives Bill

 

The Legislature's Education Committee approved a bill which imposes a series of new checks on collaborative aimed at fostering accountability.  The bill creates new reporting requirements for collaborative and related non-profits, gives greater regulatory authority to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, reinforces public bidding law requirements, mandates that collaborative administrators be certified professionals and requires collaborative to perform an annual financial audit.  Additionally, the bill also creates a commission to study the roles that collaborative play in the state's K-12 education system and make recommendations regarding services to individuals 22 and older. The bill was endorsed following a series of oversight hearings and is not expected to move until formal session resume in 2012.

 

New State Psychiatric Center to Open in Worcester

 

A new 320-bed Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital will open in July 2012. Having spent seven years in the planning, design and construction stages, the center will represent the first newly built state psychiatric facility in more than 100 years.

 

MassDOT RMV urges eligible drivers to renew their licenses online 

 

The number of license renewals is expected to increase by 50 percent beginning in November and continue at higher levels for the months thereafter. November is the beginning of a five-year license renewal cycle that began in 1991, replacing the previous four-year cycle.   The result of that change is one year every five years with a reduced number of license renewals.  That lower volume year ends as of November 1, and transactions will increase. The RMV has responded by launching a publicity campaign through Highway Division billboards and public service announcements at the MBTA to urge drivers to check their license expiration dates and renew online.

  

Services available on the MassDOT RMV website include applying for a first time license; converting an out-of-state license; scheduling a branch appointment; registration renewals; ordering a driving record, crash report or Fast Lane transponder; viewing the status of a license, registration, driver education certificate and title; signing up for organ/tissue donation; and canceling a registration plate.  

 

Unclaimed Property Listings for Massachusetts

 

The Massachusetts Treasury has identified thousands of new individuals, charities and businesses over the last six months alone that are entitled to over $61 million in unclaimed property. Unclaimed property includes forgotten savings and checking accounts, un-cashed checks, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, dividends, and contents of unattended safe deposit boxes.  Most accounts are considered "abandoned" and turned over to the Treasury after three years with no activity.  Over the last six months alone, $61.3 million in new unclaimed property has been turned over to the state, adding to a total of $2 billion that the Commonwealth is holding in trust until rightful owners can be identified.

  

The newly released list includes four accounts over $100,000, nineteen accounts between $50,000 and $100,000, and over 3,700 accounts in excess of $1,000.  In addition to bank accounts, the new accounts include 1,180 owners of safe deposit boxes, 546 owners of mutual funds, and 9,062 owners of stock.  It is estimated that one in ten people in Massachusetts has unclaimed property in their name.

  

The Treasury releases an updated list of unclaimed assets every six months as new accounts are turned over to the Commonwealth.  There is no time limit to claim this property and, in many cases, claimants will receive interest.  To determine if they have unclaimed property, citizens can call 888-344-MASS or visit www.findmassmoney.com.    

 

Application Deadline for Small Business Banking Partnership Extended

 

Treasurer Steven Grossman extended the deadline by which community banks must apply for membership in the Small Business Banking Partnership from September 1, 2011 to January 1, 2012. The Small Business Banking Partnership moves Treasury cash reserve funds typically held by large national and international financial institutions and deposits them in amounts of up to $5 million in Massachusetts banks. In exchange for the infusion of new deposits, the banks sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signaling their intent to enhance their loan portfolios to small credit-worthy Massachusetts businesses.

 

The first deposits were made in early May of this year, and the Treasury quickly surpassed the initial $100 million that had been set aside for the program, prompting it to designate another $100 million to the initiative. Presently, the Partnership has over $121 million on deposit with 27 community banks across the Commonwealth, many of which have already extended new loans leveraged through the deposits to small businesses.

 

In addition to the banks with Treasury money on deposit, 24 banks statewide have made a commitment to participate in the Small Business Banking Partnership and are in varying stages of signing up for the program. Treasurer Grossman said he has been travelling across the state to promote the program with bank officials, with an eye toward ensuring that all community banks are aware of the benefits of the Partnership before the application period closes on the newly extended deadline of January 1, 2012. All deposits that the Treasury makes in these community banks are protected through either insurance or collateral, and the interest rate on the money is comparable to what the Commonwealth receives at out-of-state financial institutions.

 

MBTA Launches App for Customer Concerns

 

A new application is available on iTunes which allows customers to convey concerns or complaints about MBTA service. The new application lets customers send photos and comments directly to the T's operation center. Once the pictures and comments reach the MBTA's control center, they are parceled out to members of the maintenance or operations staff.

 

Internship Opportunities Website

 

The state launched a website featuring internship opportunities across Massachusetts. The new website, promoted by the Commonwealth Marketing Office, aims to convince college students and recent graduates to stay in the state. Companies are allowed to post opportunities at no charge and serves as a "a one-stop shop" for students searching for internships. Currently, the site features more than 100 internship opportunities.  

 

Drivers Encouraged to "Donate Life"

Rep. Stanley, in a letter to Auditor Bump sent in September, asked the state auditor's office to examine the transportation costs of non-resident students, and question whether Waltham's transportation costs are an unfunded mandate. According to Chapter 29, Section 27C of Massachusetts General Law, which requires that local mandates that impose new costs on municipalities must either be fully funded by the state or be subject to voluntary local acceptance, Rep. Stanley believes that this is an unfunded mandate imposed on Waltham and its taxpayers.