Section 9C of Chapter 29 of the General Laws requires the Governor to reduce spending whenever his administration determines that there will not be enough revenue to pay for the spending authorized in the budget.

The current administration requested today expanded budget powers to enact 9C cuts for FY10.

[Skip Ahead: Civic Engagement | Revenue | Government Reform]

• October 13. Boston Mayoral Forum. On Tuesday, October 27, 2009, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, at Faneuil Hall join a coalition of more than 30 partner organizations led by MassVote to hear from the 2 candidates for mayor of Boston about their ideas and proposals about how they plan to work to move Boston forward. [Download Forums Flyer]
  
  
• Massachusetts Senate Race. These are exciting times for the democracy of our state. At the local level many cities and towns are electing new mayors and city councilors at large in these upcoming weeks that will help shape the future of their communities. At the national level we will have an special election in January to elect our new senator that will represent us in Capitol Hill. Please consider learning more about each of the candidates for this important seat.

          Michael Capuano (D)    Martha Coakley (D)
          Alan Khazei (D)           Steve Pagliuca (D)
          Scott Brown (R)           Bob Burr (R) 

• Initiative for Diversity in Civic Leadership IDCL is an Intensive 16-week training program to develop the next generation of leaders of color committed to public service to ensure a more representative democracy and a diverse civic community in Greater Boston. [http://initiativefordiversity.net/]

          The deadline for applications is this coming October 23, 2009 (Postmark):

          All applications must be mailed or faxed to: 
          ¿Oìste? 
          Attn: Alejandra St.Guillen 
          59 Temple Place, Suite 337
          Boston, MA 02111 
          Fax: 617-426-0324


Updates:

• Civic Engagement during Challenging Fiscal Times. Advocates for mental health services on Wednesday called for lawmakers to expand the governor's budget-slicing ability outside the agencies under his control, saying they had already been disproportionately affected by budget cuts tied to plunging state tax revenues. "This is a message to the governor and the Legislature that we will not take it anymore," said Tobias Fisher, the policy director. With hundreds of people from the rally behind him, Fisher delivered 6,000 signatures to an aide outside Gov. Deval Patrick's office. [SHNS]
  

• Mass Market: Lawmakers re-examine tax credits for Hollywood flicks. Lawmakers are giving the state's film tax credits a close look as part of a broader review of state tax breaks - scrutiny that might lead to changes as soon as next year. The review comes on the heels of a brief, unsuccessful attempt at the State House this summer to cap how much of a movie's budget could be eligible for credits. [Wicked Local]
  
  
• Business tax deal may cost $535m. A corporate tax deduction, created last year as a sweetener for businesses in a tax-tightening measure, will cost the state at least $535 million over seven years, according to a new estimate by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. That projected loss of state revenue - and estimates that more than half of the $535 million would benefit just three corporations - comes at a time when state dollars are already stretched thin, prompting calls to rethink the wisdom of the deduction. [Boston Globe] [MassBudget]
  
  
• House budget chief brings message of aid cuts. With fiscal 2010 state revenues already more than $200 million below budget, municipalities should be prepared for cuts to local aid, state Rep. Charles A. Murphy said Wednesday. Gov. Deval Patrick "hasn't announced (9c cuts) yet, but I think you can pretty much set your watch to them," said Murphy, who said the governor has until Oct. 28 to announce any planned cuts. "We've got $5 billion in local aid statewide. That's where you go," he said. [South Coast Today]
  
  
• Bay State leans on income taxes, not so much on sales levies. Massachusetts ranks third in its reliance on income taxes to fund state and local government, behind Oregon and Maryland, according to a new report by the Tax Foundation. And despite all the uproar over this year's increase in the sales tax to 6.25 percent, our government don't depend on retail receipts as much as most states do. [CWUnbound]
  
  
• House speaker: Jobs from gambling, movies are key to helping state. Defending the state's push for gambling and its controversial fil tax credit program, DeLeo told The Patriot Ledger that one of his priorities is job creation. De Leo said the most effective strategy for pulling the state out of its fiscal crisis is a long term approach, but  also talked about  the need for more immediate budget cuts. DeLeo said he plans to file legislation to bring resort casinos to the state in 2011. He also said the film tax credit is a "good investment" for the state. [Norton Mirror]