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Budget Final

With the recent state budget passed on Beacon Hill, I would like to share some of my thoughts on fiscal policy with you. When the Legislature creates state budgets they should be accountable, transparent, and locally focused.

Unlike private businesses where the accounting system focuses on profitability, government accounting must focus on accountability and stewardship. When you sit down at the kitchen table to review your household budget (after you have determined your income), you list your expenses, prioritizing and justifying each expense item. This same process should happen at the state level periodically through a zero-based budgeting process. Zero-based budgeting forces every department manager to justify expense items in their budget from zero. This would replace the current process of state agencies simply requesting a certain percentage over last year’s budget. If the legislature institutes this every few years, Massachusetts will be in a much better position to recognize and get rid of inefficiencies.

Secondly, we deserve to know how our money is being spent by having access to a transparent budget. Transparency has been an early campaign issue of mine and most recently, positive steps have been taken to create a website that makes transparent most of the State’s revenue and spending. The Legislature must ensure that this database empowers taxpayers by showing exactly what taxes, from where, pay for what. This will give all citizens the knowledge and confidence that their tax dollars are being spent most efficiently and effectively, paving the way for a more constructive debate on our state spending.

Finally, as your State Representative, I will be committed to creating a locally oriented budget. Too often, our budget loses sight of local needs. Take education spending, for example. Since 2002 there has been a 50% increase in spending on statewide education offices while our local school departments in Saugus, Wakefield, Lynn, and Lynnfield have experienced significant budget cuts. This is unacceptable, especially considering Saugus, Lynnfield and Wakefield receive under $5 million dollars annually from the State while neighboring communities like Reading and Melrose receive close to $10 million. As I’ve said many times, the best way to ensure that our district receives their fair share of local aid is to overhaul the formula to create more equity, focusing on helping cities and towns directly. I’ll be committed to shifting this focus by building coalitions at the State House, something I’ve proven I can do in Wakefield, and by simplifying and reducing the numerous factors currently taken into consideration when local aid is distributed.

Some people have argued that the state has no money to fix local aid inequity or other problems. But rather than offering any constructive or realistic proposals they use inflammatory arguments that bring out the worst in people. The voters will not be fooled by this negativity. The voters want action. They want and deserve new ideas and constructive solutions.

The recession has hit our state hard and we don’t have the revenues as in year’s past. But by having a state budget that is accountable, transparent and locally focused, we can be sure that we are doing our best to maintain needed services and eliminate waste and inefficiencies. We need to shift the focus onto our communities, ensuring that they are all funded fairly and equitably. Putting our limited resources into the hands of those who directly impact the citizens they serve every day is the best solution to our budget problems.

Budget Final

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