ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTING YOUR TAX DOLLARS

This recession has hit our communities hard. Saugus’ unemployment rate just climbed to over 9% and Lynn’s has broken past 10%. As a State Representative I’d work create an environment of economic development in our Commonwealth that will spur job growth and use your tax dollars more efficiently so we can invest our resources better and put more money into your hands.

Tax Transparency

You should know how your tax dollars are spent. The State should post this information online. List every tax, how much it brings, and how that money is used on an easily accessible website for all to use and see. A more transparent government is a more efficient government.

Zero Based Budgeting

The starting point is implementing zero-based budgeting.

Zero based budgeting is a budget and planning process in which each manager must justify a department’s entire budget every year (or period).  Zero based budgeting differs from the traditional concept of budgeting in which next year’s budget is largely based on the expenditures of the previous year.

If Massachusetts requires that on a periodic basis (every five years) all expenditures from dollar one must be justified, we would create the most efficient budget possible. This would help ensure that taxes and fees are only increased when absolutely necessary.

I will also work with the new state Auditor and the Treasurer’s office to make sure that all inefficiencies and redundancies are identified and eliminated before the discussion turns to raising taxes and fees.

For example, soon after the sales tax was increased, the stateAuditor discovered that there was over $200,000 in over-paymentsrelated to MassHealth.  Two months later, the state Auditor alsofound over one million dollars in abandoned accounts that could be returned to the state treasury.

While taxes and fees are a necessary part of running government, it is my responsibility as your state representative to be a good steward of your money.

Source:  http://www.mass.gov/sao/releases2009.htm

Jobs

For the first time since World War II, Massachusetts ended the decade with fewer jobs than it began with.  Since 2000 the average employment in the state fell by 55,000 jobs.  Further when adjusted for inflation, the median income for Massachusetts families fell by more than 1 percent over the past ten years, again the first such decline since the end of World War II.  

Proper job training must match job seekers with the skill sets required by the employer.  Together with investment in higher education, this will guarantee a quality workforce that is in demand.

Job tax credits for small businesses as well as assistance in accessing capital will encourage businesses to hire.  

By partnering with our local college and universities and investing in research intensive industries, life sciences, bio-tech, and green technology, we can accelerate job creation in these areas.  

Finally, by having fairer state funding formulas we can bring more jobs to Lynn, Lynnfield, Saugus, and Wakefield.

Source:  http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/01/25/a_lost_decade_for_bay_state_jobs/?page=2