Berkshire Senior Online

By North Adams Mayor John Barrett, III

I am very concerned about the recent comments made by Governor-Elect Romney as well as Speaker Thomas Finneran. Both have indicated that there will be no new taxes even though the state will be facing a deficit in excess of two billion dollars in the next fiscal year. The new governor stated many times during the campaign that there will be no cuts in vital programs. Unless he is Houdini, this promise simply cannot be kept without new revenue. The talk of a 10% reduction in local aid will result in reduced programs in our public schools. Medicare will be cut to the bone as will the drug prescription program for seniors. In the last six months alone we have seen a reduction in services as an additional $350,000,000 from the existing state budget, and more cuts are anticipated. Most, if not all, communities will see a significant increase in their property tax rate if services at the local level are to be maintained. During my tenure as mayor I have dealt with two prior state financial crises but they pale in comparison to the one which Massachusetts will see over the next eighteen months. I know our new governor was a successful businessman, but if he can save vital programs and make up a two million dollar deficit without raising taxes, he will be the new Houdini of the 21^st century.

Along with the overwhelming majority of mayors in Massachusetts, I urged the legislature to leave the state income tax at 5.9% (rather than reduce it to 5.6% and later to 5.3%). By taking this action, it would have at least protected local aid and maintained a majority of programs which help our most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately they disagreed and the rate was dropped to 5.3% and the average taxpayer received a break of around $100. This "extra money," however, was quickly eaten up on increased property taxes and fees. I do not proclaim to be a Rhodes scholar but I certainly know that people of this state did not receive any tax relief when the income tax was dropped from 5.9% to 5.3%. Instead, they got reduced services and communities are being forced to increase property taxes and fees. It would make much more sense to bring the income tax to 5.75% with no loss of programs, no new fees and most importantly, funding for education, prescription drugs and Medicare. The impact on the middle income person would be $100 a year or one two dollar scratch ticket a week. To many in Boston, the question of reducing the lottery payout seems like an easy way to raise extra money. This, however, has to be the most foolish of all the ideas that have been proposed. Right now, Massachusetts has the most successful lottery in America and one of th reasons is that it has the highest payout. If the payouts were reduced, there would be a dramatic decline in ticket sales as most players now feel the state takes too much. It would make more sense to shorten the time between Keno games from five minutes to four minutes which would generate nearly 50 million dollars in additional revenue - simple - but no one wants to do it. Another reason the state should not fool with the lottery is that all the money is returned to the cities and towns.

Difficult decisions are going to have to be made and I just hope that those in Boston making them will do what is right for the people they represent, and not what is politically expedient. Maybe some of our political leaders should read my favorite book, "Profiles in Courage," as it will remind them that public service is about helping people even if it means taking difficult positions which go against a speaker or the party leadership. If they do the right thing, the people of Massachusetts will be the beneficiary.