Representative Don Humason



LOCAL AID RESOLUTION By Representative Don Humason, Jr. April 7, 2007 Do you know a high school or college student who is going to be looking for a summer job this year? Well, tell them to look no further. But they have to hurry. The application process for the Commonwealth's Seasonal Training and Employment Program (STEP) will come to a close on April 13, 2007. STEP offers summer job positions through the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) at area state parks, pools, ponds, and forests. The seasonal positions include lifeguards, clerks, summer workers and laborers, and are available at state swimming pools/areas, campgrounds, and recreational/picnic areas. The number of positions is limited. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. More information is available online at: www.state.ma.us/dcr Students looking for a summer job with the state can feel free to call me or stop by my district office for an application. Completed applications should be returned to Sarah Latour in my district office by Wednesday, April 11, 2006. My office phone number is 568-1366. We’re located at 64 Noble Street in Westfield. I will personally deliver my constituents’ applications to the Governor's office at the State House along with my recommendation for summer employment. The House and Senate met in full formal sessions Wednesday to debate a Local Aid Resolution long supported by members of the Republican caucus. The bill we debated was called House Bill 3972, an act “providing for a declaration of the intent of the House of Representatives and the Senate relative to the amount and distribution of local aid to the Commonwealth’s cities, towns, and regional school districts for Fiscal Year 2008; Provided, further that timely notice to cities, towns, and regional school districts relative to the amounts of school and municipal aid and lottery distributions is essential for an orderly and rational budget process at the local level.” Our cities are where the rubber meets the road as far as most government services people use are considered. From fire and police protection to trash collection, road maintenance, schools, and water and sewer services, I think it is vitally important that Beacon Hill send more money back to the local level where the average citizen has the most control and the services do the most good. The local aid resolution debated increases local aid to cities and towns by $235 million over last year. Although that number is higher than the amount Governor Deval Patrick proposed in his own spending plan, 80 communities got less under the House plan than they did under the governor’s plan. The Republican caucus offered an amendment to restore aid to those 80 communities, but that proposal was also rejected. Under the joint local aid resolution passed today by the House and Senate, Westfield will receive $32,840,745 in Chapter 70 school aid in the Fiscal Year 2008 budget set to be unveiled next Wednesday. This is an increase of $107,135 over what Governor Patrick proposed in his House 1 budget and an increase of $939,436 over what Westfield’s schools received in this current fiscal year. Lottery aid remains the same at $7,835,094. We’ll see next week what the House Ways and Means Committee version of next year’s state budget looks like. I’m afraid it’s going to be tight. At least we protected cities and towns a little bit with the local aid resolution. Happy Passover and Happy Easter to everyone. Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us
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LOCAL AID RESOLUTION

By Representative Don Humason, Jr.

April 7, 2007

Do you know a high school or college student who is going to be looking for a summer job this year? Well, tell them to look no further. But they have to hurry. The application process for the Commonwealth's Seasonal Training and Employment Program (STEP) will come to a close on April 13, 2007.

STEP offers summer job positions through the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) at area state parks, pools, ponds, and forests.

The seasonal positions include lifeguards, clerks, summer workers and laborers, and are available at state swimming pools/areas, campgrounds, and recreational/picnic areas.

The number of positions is limited. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. More information is available online at: www.state.ma.us/dcr

Students looking for a summer job with the state can feel free to call me or stop by my district office for an application. Completed applications should be returned to Sarah Latour in my district office by Wednesday, April 11, 2006. My office phone number is 568-1366. We’re located at 64 Noble Street in Westfield.

I will personally deliver my constituents’ applications to the Governor's office at the State House along with my recommendation for summer employment.

The House and Senate met in full formal sessions Wednesday to debate a Local Aid Resolution long supported by members of the Republican caucus.

The bill we debated was called House Bill 3972, an act “providing for a declaration of the intent of the House of Representatives and the Senate relative to the amount and distribution of local aid to the Commonwealth’s cities, towns, and regional school districts for Fiscal Year 2008; Provided, further that timely notice to cities, towns, and regional school districts relative to the amounts of school and municipal aid and lottery distributions is essential for an orderly and rational budget process at the local level.”

Our cities are where the rubber meets the road as far as most government services people use are considered. From fire and police protection to trash collection, road maintenance, schools, and water and sewer services, I think it is vitally important that Beacon Hill send more money back to the local level where the average citizen has the most control and the services do the most good.

The local aid resolution debated increases local aid to cities and towns by $235 million over last year. Although that number is higher than the amount Governor Deval Patrick proposed in his own spending plan, 80 communities got less under the House plan than they did under the governor’s plan. The Republican caucus offered an amendment to restore aid to those 80 communities, but that proposal was also rejected.

Under the joint local aid resolution passed today by the House and Senate, Westfield will receive $32,840,745 in Chapter 70 school aid in the Fiscal Year 2008 budget set to be unveiled next Wednesday.

This is an increase of $107,135 over what Governor Patrick proposed in his House 1 budget and an increase of $939,436 over what Westfield’s schools received in this current fiscal year. Lottery aid remains the same at $7,835,094.

We’ll see next week what the House Ways and Means Committee version of next year’s state budget looks like. I’m afraid it’s going to be tight. At least we protected cities and towns a little bit with the local aid resolution.

Happy Passover and Happy Easter to everyone.

Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group