NEITHER THE Globe nor “giddy’’ local officials should be fooled by Governor Patrick’s asserting that his budget reductions don’t cut local aid (“Patrick should cut local aid, ease up on human services,’’ Editorial, Nov. 2). While the governor may not have made cuts to Chapter 70 or additional assistance, the fine print shows millions of dollars in reductions to the special education circuit breaker, regional school transportation, and payments in lieu of taxes from the state to localities.
In North Reading, the local meals tax, which the town recently adopted, will bring in just $100,000 per year. This amount is hardly enough to make up the shortfalls left by the aforementioned cuts, let alone avoid service cuts or looming layoffs. Your editorial is correct that the Legislature and the governor need to give cities and towns some real means to control fixed costs.
I empathize with the social service agencies taking significant cuts; as someone caring for an elderly parent and a public school student, I know that my loved ones will feel the impact of the state’s continued shortfall one way or the other. But for the governor to say he hasn’t cut local aid is disingenuous, and for the Globe to suggest that cities and towns have the ability to absorb further cuts is equally misleading.
Marci Bailey
North Reading 
