Representative Don Humason



TAX TIME By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. April 15, 2006 Hello everyone. Happy tax day! According to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, "since the due date of April 15, 2006 falls on a Saturday, and the holiday Patriots Day falls on Monday, April 17, 2006, the due date for filing 2005 personal income tax returns is Tuesday, April 18, 2006." So you have a couple extra days this year. Whew! The DOR web page also had this to say about what the new tax changes for 2005 were, "Recent changes include: increase in personal exemptions; new heating cost deduction up to $800 for qualifying low- to moderate-income taxpayers; new home energy improvements credit up to $600; increase in senior circuit breaker thresholds; federal deductions now allowed due to Code Update (pending legislation;) new families of military personnel fund for voluntary contributions, etc." These are all items the legislature voted on. It was a busy week in Boston. I got a lot of calls there because I was having problems with my phone service in my Westfield District Office. When I moved my office to the new location at 64 Noble Street I signed up for high speed Internet and voice over cable phone service. It still has some glitches. I apologize if you tried to contact me and couldn't get through. Comcast finally has my phone working so try me again! On Monday the House Ways and Means Committee (H W&M) released their version of the FY '07 budget document online. You may see the budget by going to www.mass.gov/legis. The deadline for members to file amendments to the budget was Wednesday at 5 PM. The budget totals $25.3 billion. To put that in some perspective, when I began working at the State House for Mike Knapik 15 years ago, in 1991, the budget was around $10 billion. I sponsored several amendments for Noble Hospital and co-sponsored dozens of others pertaining to numerous issues including Local aid for Westfield, DSS, the Mass Aeronautics Commission, the Board of Library Commissioners, DMR Turning 22, and more. The House debates those amendments beginning April 24. My first impression after reviewing this budget was that the H W& M unfortunately did not fund local aid as much as Governor Romney's House 2 budget did. Last year, we received $6,086,553 in lottery aid and $29,644,636 in Chapter 70 education aid. In the Governor's proposal for this year we fared better with $7,682,345 in Lottery money and $31,593,729 in education funding. Unfortunately, under the H W&M proposed budget we get only $31,135,689 in Chapter 70, a cut of about $458,040. The H W&M budget uncaps the lottery just as the Governor and House Republicans recommended. The lottery aid remains the same. As I said, I cosponsored several amendments to restore the level of our Chapter 70 education aid. Speaking of education, I spent some time in the Westfield Public Schools this week when I wasn't in Boston. On Tuesday night I attended the Westfield High Talent Show. 18 student acts ranging from bands to singers to dancers. It was better than anything you see on American Idol! Wednesday morning I was again at the High School for Career Shadow Day. Juniors shadow employers to learn about what they do and what the job entails. Thanks to my shadow, Alex Fisher-Levesque, who went to Boston with Joe and me. He loved my "I Love Westfield" pin so I gave him one too. Wednesday night I was at North Middle School for the Community Band Concert. What a great treat that was! We have some amazingly talented people, both students and adults, in our city. Wednesday was also State College Day on Beacon Hill. As a member of the Higher Education Committee I spoke to a large group of students from the 9 state colleges across Massachusetts. Westfield State College students and Westfield students attending other schools visited me. When I was a student at Westfield State in the late '80's I also participated in State College Day. As a public college alum myself it was good to welcome them to their capitol. Sadly, I'm out of room. Next week I'll bring news from the desert. Happy Easter! Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 443, Boston, MA02133, (617) 722-2460. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us * * * Please feel free to forward this column to your family, friends, and associates. If you do not wish to receive an email copy of my Saturday Westfield Evening News column, please reply and let me know. I will then take you off the list. Sorry for any inconvenience.
This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group

TAX TIME

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

April 15, 2006

Hello everyone. Happy tax day!

According to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, "since the due date of April 15, 2006 falls on a Saturday, and the holiday Patriots Day falls on Monday, April 17, 2006, the due date for filing 2005 personal income tax returns is Tuesday, April 18, 2006." So you have a couple extra days this year. Whew!

The DOR web page also had this to say about what the new tax changes for 2005 were, "Recent changes include: increase in personal exemptions; new heating cost deduction up to $800 for qualifying low- to moderate-income taxpayers; new home energy improvements credit up to $600; increase in senior circuit breaker thresholds; federal deductions now allowed due to Code Update (pending legislation;) new families of military personnel fund for voluntary contributions, etc." These are all items the legislature voted on.

It was a busy week in Boston. I got a lot of calls there because I was having problems with my phone service in my Westfield District Office. When I moved my office to the new location at 64 Noble Street I signed up for high speed Internet and voice over cable phone service. It still has some glitches. I apologize if you tried to contact me and couldn't get through. Comcast finally has my phone working so try me again!

On Monday the House Ways and Means Committee (H W&M) released their version of the FY '07 budget document online. You may see the budget by going to www.mass.gov/legis. The deadline for members to file amendments to the budget was Wednesday at 5 PM.

The budget totals $25.3 billion. To put that in some perspective, when I began working at the State House for Mike Knapik 15 years ago, in 1991, the budget was around $10 billion.

I sponsored several amendments for Noble Hospital and co-sponsored dozens of others pertaining to numerous issues including Local aid for Westfield, DSS, the Mass Aeronautics Commission, the Board of Library Commissioners, DMR Turning 22, and more. The House debates those amendments beginning April 24.

My first impression after reviewing this budget was that the H W& M unfortunately did not fund local aid as much as Governor Romney's House 2 budget did.

Last year, we received $6,086,553 in lottery aid and $29,644,636 in Chapter 70 education aid. In the Governor's proposal for this year we fared better with $7,682,345 in Lottery money and $31,593,729 in education funding. Unfortunately, under the H W&M proposed budget we get only $31,135,689 in Chapter 70, a cut of about $458,040.

The H W&M budget uncaps the lottery just as the Governor and House Republicans recommended. The lottery aid remains the same. As I said, I cosponsored several amendments to restore the level of our Chapter 70 education aid.

Speaking of education, I spent some time in the Westfield Public Schools this week when I wasn't in Boston. On Tuesday night I attended the Westfield High Talent Show. 18 student acts ranging from bands to singers to dancers. It was better than anything you see on American Idol!

Wednesday morning I was again at the High School for Career Shadow Day. Juniors shadow employers to learn about what they do and what the job entails. Thanks to my shadow, Alex Fisher-Levesque, who went to Boston with Joe and me. He loved my "I Love Westfield" pin so I gave him one too.

Wednesday night I was at North Middle School for the Community Band Concert.
What a great treat that was! We have some amazingly talented people, both students and adults, in our city.

Wednesday was also State College Day on Beacon Hill. As a member of the Higher Education Committee I spoke to a large group of students from the 9 state colleges across Massachusetts. Westfield State College students and Westfield students attending other schools visited me. When I was a student at Westfield State in the late '80's I also participated in State College Day. As a public college alum myself it was good to welcome them to their capitol.

Sadly, I'm out of room. Next week I'll bring news from the desert. Happy Easter!

Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA01085, 568-1366.

Their Boston address is State House Room 443, Boston, MA02133, (617) 722-2460. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us

* * * Please feel free to forward this column to your family, friends, and associates. If you do not wish to receive an email copy of my Saturday Westfield Evening News column, please reply and let me know. I will then take you off the list. Sorry for any inconvenience.

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group