Kingston: Rep. says town should expect a 5 to 7 percent cut in local aid

Calter speaking to a group of supporters at a fundraising event at the Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston.

Some news on a local aid funding was delivered to local leaders at a campaign fundraiser Friday morning for State Representative Tom Calter.

Calter, a Democrat, said preliminary local aid numbers are in, and while there are cuts in some areas, it appears other areas may get some help.

Calter expects Chapter 70 to be kept whole and intact. He expects local aid to be cut by 5 to 7 percent, but he says as far as Chapter 90 goes–numbers released Thursday show a $200 million dollar increase. Calter’s hometown, Kingston, got a 30 percent increase.

Calter made his comments Friday morning, in front of a room of business leaders and community leaders at a fundraiser at the Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston. The event was headlined by visits from former congressman Bill Delahunt, Governor Deval Patrick and Senate President Therese Murray.

Calter says to expect an intense, at times volatile, debate during the last week of April, as lawmakers fight for their own priorities.

Calter says there is a $1.8 billion dollar structural deficit, with revenues almost $4 billion less than when he took office back in 2007.

By April 30th, the house budget will have to be voted on by the full House, before it moves to the Senate. Then the Governor will come out with his revised budget, and finally a House and Senate conference committee will iron out differences between the House and Senate versions. Once approved by both chambers of the Legislature, the Governor has ten days to review it. The Governor may approve or veto the entire budget, or may veto or reduce particular line items or sections, but may not add anything.

Then the House and Senate may vote to override the Governor’s vetoes. Overrides require a two-thirds roll-call vote in each chamber. The new fiscal year begins on July 1.