Thursday, 4:30 PM
Patrick aims for symbolism with budget address in Melrose
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
In a purely political world, Melrose may not seem like the most obvious setting tonight for Governor Deval Patrick's budget address, the first major policy initiative of his fledgling administration.
The city's mayor, Robert J. Dolan, endorsed Patrick's rival, Thomas F. Reilly, in the primary. And Dolan was one of five delegates barred from the state Democratic convention in May because he supported Republican state Senator Richard R. Tisei in his successful bid for re-election.
But by leaving Beacon Hill and traveling seven miles north to the city of 28,000, Patrick is trying to signal that he is fulfilling one of his campaign promises to govern the entire state and not just Boston.
"We all know what he is going to say. Maybe a trickle of an increase in local aid," Dolan said today in a telephone interview. "But everyone is coming because he left the State House and he is going to tell us face to face."
Patrick has struggled, however, with symbolism in the first months in office, even when he said he was trying to be the governor of the entire state. He drew criticism for making trips in a State Police helicopter to North Adams and Cape Cod, and for the cost of his million dollar inauguration, which included events across the state and was paid for by private donors.
Kyle Sullivan, a Patrick spokesman, said in an e-mail that tonight in Melrose the governor "will begin to talk directly to citizens about his vision for the state budget and how we can begin laying the foundation for real change in Massachusetts."
The spending plan Patrick will unveil tonight must tackle a projected $1.3 billion budget gap and meet his campaign pledges to lower property taxes, improve education, bolster public safety, and expand the economy. Many of the details from the budget have already been reported, including proposals to increase funding for vaccinations and full-day kindergarten programs.
Patrick has announced that he will dramatically increase public health spending next year, adding $72 million to strengthen disease prevention services and provide universal state coverage for three new immunizations for children.
Administration sources also told the Globe last week that the governor would provide about $200 million more for public education next year, which is less than some communities had hoped. Patrick will propose spending $13 million to turn about 800 of the state's 1,500 half-day kindergarten classrooms into full-day programs, the sources said.
Although many of the details about the budget are known, Melrose is still hoping to fill its 1,000-seat Soldier and Sailors Memorial Building, Dolan said.
“Even though we are just seven miles north of Boston, outside of a natural disaster like the flood we had last year, governors don’t come here," Dolan said.
Officials from North Adams, Stoneham, Medford, Malden, Wakefield, Woburn, and an array of other cities and towns have already confirmed that they will attend, Dolan said. Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino does not have plans to attend, according to his staff.
The gray granite theater known as Memorial Hall anchors downtown, sitting near City Hall and the firehouse on Main Street. It is home to the nation's oldest volunteer orchestra and hosts a jazz and blues festival and children’s theater events.
In fact, it is a building that Patrick has taken a special interest in, Dolan said. Former-governor Mitt Romney cut a $500,000 bond that had been designated to overhaul the theater's heating and air conditioning system.
Patrick restored funding for the project when he became governor, Dolan said.
