Mayors blast budget cuts, push for broad-based tax increases

I am not paying for the government's mismanagement. They will get more taxes from me when they pry my money from my cold, dead hands!

Any fool can raise taxes. The mayors have the ability to raise taxes through prop 2 1/2 overrides or through voluntary payments from citizens. If these "services" are so valuable then why don't people want to pay for them willingly? Passing the buck to the legislature to pick our pockets is not leadership.

These mayors must be crazy or just don't know what's going on in their communities. People are losing their jobs left and right and they are clamoring for higher taxes. I hope the mayor of Melrose loses in the next election. Thee man sounds a bit delusional. He needs to ask himself where are the people in his city would get the money to pay the extra taxes.

I've got an idea. Maybe the Municipal Employees unions can come to the aid of the people. 5% wage reductions at the towns and shared medical expenses would be a great service the town and city employees could provide to the tax payer!!!

stop depending on government - it is a wasteful organization full of corruption

The private sector has been cutting jobs and benefits for the past two years. Now its time for the public sector to share the effects of a recession. The cities and towns must now sit down with the unions and renegotiate the contracts and help the taxpayers.

Ummm, Mayors, where do you think the money comes from that the state gives you? Some magic money trees at the state house? No, it comes from the same people who pay the taxes in your town. Putting in user fees and things like that just make those who use the services pay for them directly instead of first sending the money to the state so you can get it back.

All this is doing is providing a cover for expenses. Blame the state for the high taxes but credit the town for providing the services it pays for with state tax revenues. It is a shell game.

"The cuts would bring local aid to levels it hasn’t seen since 1987"

Good.

More of the same... the towns want to tax people to death. Cuts are definitely needed.
Maybe it's time to do away with police and fire fighter unions so that we can cut those costs a lot.
Maybe it's time to stop police details at construction sites.
Maybe it's time for the overpaid pike workers to go since we pay a premium for their unnecessary work.

“When times are tough, we need leadership. Any fool can cut budgets.”

And any fool can increase taxes.

raise taxes,why not?the majority of voters voted against question # 1.raise taxes until the majority of voters vote to stop raising taxes.

We do not need a broad-based tax or any new taxes for that matter. The state must rid itself of the political hacks before requesting any new taxes.

SCREW the MAYORS. You have the same Hack problem as the State. Reform your budgets layoff your cronies and then ask the state for some money. Join the State Health Plan look at your pension system. Let get something strait the FEDS no longer offer there employees pensions. There is a duplication of services in city and town goverment. Lay off some admins and excutives that you do not need in your daily operations.

What a bunch of crap- total hyperbole. Check out this quote: William Scanlon of Beverly added that the cuts would “destroy the fabric of our entire civilization in this state.”

What a bunch of blood sucking dolts! Don't give any of these idiots another dime.

No offense, mayor and selectmen of the MMA, but where've you been the last 15 years as Bay Staters spend billions at CT and RI gaming venues? Oh yeah, that's right, Massachusetts' longest-serving mayor, John Barrett of North Adams, was a cheerleader fo state Rep. Dan Bosley, the North Adams state rep who kept the House from ever debating a serious casino bill. Hey Barrett, you didn;t have any problem when Bosley was brooming all those taxes, jobs and tourism to the CT and RI economies for the past 15 years. All of a sudden, you're upset that local cuts need to be made? Every member of the MMA who has opposed resort casinos at any time during the past 15 years has to shoulder some of the fiscal blame that they're carping about today. Had they the courage to have bucked Bosley and previous speakers, those billions would have been spent in MA instead of CT and RI. Every cop, firefighter, librarian, and other city and town employee who gets laid off, remember this could've been avoided if your local officials had had the courage when it had counted!!!

William Scanlon of Beverly added that the cuts would “destroy the fabric of our entire civilization in this state.”

Are you kidding me? When was it that the fate of the state relyied on the government and not the strength of the people? This hysteria is ridiculous! Grow up you whiney Mayors and make the necessary cuts, and stop demanding that we have to pay for everything or else. There is plenty of wasteful spending out there, you know where it is but you dont want to make the politically incorrect decisions because you would actually have to do something. I am so sick of you whiney pols that write and cash checks on the backs of the working people with indignance, then snap at us like isolent children when we question your motives.

You know, these Mayors and town administrators are all whiney little babies!!!! Get over it! Maybe if you had run your respective cities and towns properly these cuts would not have affected you as much. The state isn't pulling in as much revenue as it was before, so like any good business, it makes cuts. As a "business unit" of the state, these cities and towns have to make cuts too. That's it, end of story...
Maybe these cities and towns need to organize and run themselves better...Maybe regionalization of the town administration and some of the offices might make sense...(and the side effect would be duplicate positions could be eliminated...I do not believe every town needs a town administrator). But that wouldn't happen because people like Jeff Nutting might lose their job...boo freakin' hoo!!! And don't try to pull any of the prop 2 1/2 override crap on us anymore...I think people are fed up with it and don't want to pay it.
News flash to the cities and towns: Tighten your belt or find new ways to generate revenue just like every other business and individual right now!!!!

"Any fool can cut budgets.”
I'd say: Any fool can ask for tax increases. Live within the means!

In 26 years as mayor, I have never seen such a lack of leadership on Beacon Hill,” said Mayor John Barrett of North Adams. “When times are tough, we need leadership. Any fool can cut budgets.

Maybe he should try that in his town instead of whining. I am sure Menino will whine, maybe he should fire his $108K daughter-in-law secretary before he starts to whine.

So do a prop 2 1/2 override, you suckers voted for it, now you can eat it.

So what was wrong with the service levels in 1987? We had civilization in 1987 too. When there ISN'T enough money, cities want tax increases to pay for existing and expanded services. When there IS enough money, cities want tax increases to pay for new and expanded services. If the city governments worked to expand industrial, business and residential developement there would be more property and sales taxes. When they continuously allow the anti-everythings to dictate policy they have less developement and less revenue for the services they need to provide. NO NEW TAXES!!!

Hooverism has taken over our 're-election' focused reps/senators...

Have they not learned anything from the economists over the past 3-6 months in regards that pulling back is a sure way to push the Commonwealth over the cliff and into a sustained recession...

Don't believe it - Well look at the delayed and limp recovery from the last recession earlier this decade which to my mind was clearly aided and abetted by the cut cut cut mentality of the Mittster and crew...

Any fool can cut budgets? A fool cuts budgets but the enlightened raise taxes? I would suggest it takes the resourceful and responsible to cut budgets. Any fool or self serving politician can raise taxes.

any comments from the mayors about adjusting the healthcare and pension benefits for city employees?

I didnt think so.

Mayor and State officials
The gravy train has ended; you cannot keep on going to the taxpayers for more money every time there is a shortfall. When business don’t have money they reduce cost, lay people off reduce salaries cut benefits etc.
Every year towns take the max they can under PROP2.5 increasing the budget and when an n economic downturn or something happens the budgets are so huge towns cannot cope.

Hello... McFly. You don't raise taxes in an economic reccession. We need to put money into families' pockets to stimulate the economy, not take more money out of people's pockets. Plus, until the state of Mass. fixes the patronage hackarama with do nothing nothing, big pension jobs, how dare anybody ask for more money from the taxpayers.

This people make me sick. Here's a news flash folks TIMES ARE TOUGH and everybody has to make sacrfices including towns and cities. Why do they feel like their programs are immune to what is happening and don't need to make cuts??
Last time I checked people who lost jobs didn't continue to dine on prime rib and moved to PB&J.
Instead of whining about your funding being cut find alternative ways to raise money within your communities. The first would be to take a tweo hour pay cut to give back to the towns/cities for this ridiculous soap box escapade.

Citys and Towns have the same waste and curruption the State has. Lay off the politacal hacks. Join the state health plan, reform your local pensions. Get rid of pensions for all employees. Stop crying and reform your local goverment. Again cut your wages and have hirring Freeze. No new taxes and live within your means.

These mayors should stop complaining and get the legislature to repeal the prevailing wage law. They would then have plenty of money.

The mayors must all the tea party activities yesterday. People are tired of taxes, people are out of work they don't have money to pay for them. We need to get rid of hacks, I don't know why politicians don't get it

Mayor John Barrett hit the nail on the head with the word "fool" Beacon Hill is covered with fools, and you all put them back there every election cycle, you get what you deserve !

Dear mayors,

That's too bad. I would start with cutting the stuff and pensions in your municipalities. Cut your relatives and friends of relatives from the stuff. Then go bck to legislation and governor and tell them to do the same. And then try to operate within your means just like we all have to do. It is not luck of money that destroyng our "civilization". It is absurd taxation levels and unrestricted spending that does.

T. E. A - Taxed Enough Already

This should give those who clamor for full state funding of schools some pause for thought. What the state gives, the state can take away.

reform before revenue

I'm happy to see these mayors and politicians so angry. Now when will they be angry enough to turn to their political appointees and hacks working for them and say "Sorry, it was fun while it lasted but I can't afford you anymore.". Wasting our money should bring them pain. Now they're freaking out because they see that we've had enough. These steep, dire cuts may amount to mere percentage points on the overall budget. Can they not find 5% efficiencies?

I hope the commenters here won't blast the mayors when their property taxes go through the roof, or alternatively, the snow isn't plowed to their liking, or it costs them a few hundred every year just for their kids to get bused to school, or the fire dept can't get to their burning house b/c there aren't any firefighters on duty overnight. There's plenty of waste at the state level that can be cut. There's very little waste on the local level. That the state would pass this mess on to localities, which have virtually no power to raise revenue, is unconscionable.

I literally just threw up in my mouth a little bit. Unbelievable comments from these mayors.

Hey MA, keep voting in democratic incumbents. It's working GREAT.

"Any fool can cut budgets"
And any fool can raise taxes!

That's the cities problem - let them solve it - and let their leaders start cleansing their own houses before the mayors come crying for more money.

these politicians just get stupider, and stupider, and stupider, I can't stand it

These mayors are pathetic! I already pay for my trash, business permit fees, etc. so why shouldn't everyone? Why, mayors of other towns I don't live in, do I need to pay for others when they need to take care of it themselves? If everyone was responsible for self, we'd all be in a better situation!

I say this seriously, if government services were reduced to 1987 levels, the majority of society would not even notice.

They (government workers) just don't want the party to end. And the government leadership (mayors, town council, etc)) they live in a bubble. Spending OPM (Other People's Money) is their life's pursuit. They really do think there's a money tree growing in your backyards.

Now is the time to make hard cuts like this. And I pray the recession lasts long enough for union contracts to be renegotiated and brought back to earth. How many non-union (and this is about 93% of the working population) receive free healthcare for you and your family for life! Or generous pensions for life! Or absurd sick and vacation time! Or basically a virtual inability to get fired from your job for incompetence! Well, 7% of the workforce has it...they're in the unions. And public employee unions are the worst kind, because so long as we have a functioning government, they have the leverage.

Now the gimmee mentality has filtered down to the mayors. It used to be from the bottom up then the top down and now the middle to where ever anyone will listen and these unimaginative brain trusts have the knee jerk anser that has been common since Roosevelt Taxes. No restraint, no stepping up to municipal unions (mustn't disturb the voting base) just taxes. Mean while Uncle Sam is printing still more money and selling bonds to China. The Unions forced outsourcing overseas then wring their hands over job loss. Every body wants a raise.Reform before taxes!

As the population flees this state to points south, the mayors should think of the contracts they have signed off on the last 2 years as the economy went south as well. how many worker groups got generous hand outs from the mayors in multi year give aways? Now the chickens are coming home to roost. can't bleed more money out us!

The Mayor from North Adams is only half right - He should have said “When times are tough, we need leadership. Any fool can”... pass the buck.

I'm on our regional school committee, the problem is that we can't raise revenue other than voting a Prop 2 1/2 override or charging fees. Yet the state FORCES the schools do stuff without giving us the means to pay for them. A simple one is that we are required to bus kids in a regional district, but forbidden to charge a bus fee (unlike a single town/city school district). The deal the state made for towns to regionalize was that they would pay for the busing. That hasn't been fully funded for years, but the House W&M budget presented yesterday cut regional transportation reimbursement from 74% to 40% but doesn't allow the Region to make up a drastic cut like that by charging a fee. After teacher salaries, transportation is our next biggest item. A district like ours can only take a hit like that by cutting teachers. Given a choice I'd rather cut buses, but I'm required to bus, I'm not required to teach.

Don't get me started on the mandates that the state makes schools pay for special ed. These kids need and deserve most of the services they get, but why does a school have to pay for things a non-SpEd kids their health insurance would cover or that Medicaid/Mass health would cover. Medicaid is federally reimbursed - let the feds pay for it.

The Mass Association of School Committees has a 4 page list of unfunded mandates. If the state is going to make the cities and towns pay for more of the stuff that the state forces us to do, then lift the mandates and let us focus on educating the kids.

Guys, watch the video. They are primarily complaining about getting "municipal reform" which they describe as a "toolbox" of options that would allow them to manage their cities and towns better. One example repeated over and over is their ability to control healthcare costs (by raising employees copays from $5 to $15 which would save Salem $1M).

As long as there are no new taxes, I am in favor of giving the mayors better control over their budgets and expenses.

government is not the solution, it is THE problem. It is about time for people to stop looking to government for a handout, and for government to stop looking for a handout. Cut government programs deep...very deep. The government is here to serve the people, and some how we have allowed it to become the opposite. People want lower taxes, then it is time to cut governemnt services deeply. Why don't we start at 50% cut now, and then possibly more in the summer.

Taxachusetts I moved out in 1985 and never went back. I love the State but couldn't afford to support the Kennedy's and the Franks. States like Massachusetts are following their Federal leaders believing that we can just tax the middle class to death. Last I recall the middle class pay the majority of your tax burden. Well wake up the middle class are losing their jobs at a cyclic rate. Maybe Massachusetts lawmakers should look at the lotteries retirement packages. I have a friend that makes 58,000 a year on a lottery pension. I bet the health care is also top notch. Wake up sheep. Start voting these clowns out maybe that will wake them up.

"If these "services" are so valuable then why don't people want to pay for them willingly?"

Because everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die.

My lord. when will state and local governments understand that if you prostitute yourself to the beast, the beast owns you. take care of your own house and do not depend on state or federal assistance. you'll pay the price eventually

I think the mayors should eliminate services and lay everybody off. Bust the unions and fire the cops, teachers, firefighters, sanitation workers, etc. Hold bake sales and car washes to raise revenue to keep the lights on. Make taxes optional. Folks can use the tax money they save to send their kids to private school, move to gated communities with trash and snow removal, etc.

Let it BURN. Give the people what they want. I think it'd be a trip to watch. From a distance, of course.

Did anyone actually read this article and say "yes, good idea, the state should raise taxes"?

I realize our town services cost money. I would much rather pay my money direction to my town in property taxes than have the money go up to the state level and then back down to the town - losing much in waste. Guess what - our town can do a Prop 2 1/2 override if we want! The fabric of civilization is strong!

The state doesn't just need leadership in hard times. It needs strong leadership even more in good times - strong leadership that makes sure temporary prosperity does not result in permanent annual cost increases. Leadership to make sure that we SAVE during the good times so we can temper the bad times. You can't just start leading during the bad times.

As a former Selectman, I learned that one thing municipal governments can't live with in their budgets... especially the schools. State aid was cut dramatically in the early 90's and the sky didn't fall. Elect leaders who know how to manage a budget, not just spend one. And look very close at the waste in the school budgets!

This is not 'pass the buck'. It's 'live within your means'.

The gravy train ride is over. Finished. Get used to it mayors.

Where are the leaders of Peabody on this? You know, the guys who just gave the police department a paid holiday on September 11. Police standing around while we dig holes and cut trees, firemen standing around washing trucks , pensions, pensions and more pensions, sick days, bennies. The mayors have lost control over the unions, because it is hard to get elected as mayor without sucking up to the unions. It's all a big scam, perpetrated by the unions. The mayors end up being their little lap dogs. The public isn't voting in high enough numbers to stop this. The real problem here is voter apathy and laziness. We have let the situation get out of hand, people - ultimately it is our fault for not electing leaders would keep a lid on this on our behalf. Next election, vote only for those who pledge to keep these costs under control, and keep a lid on all the back door bennies, like buy-back sick days, and all the behind the curtain stuff that is used to featherbed all these contracts. If the unions hate them, elect them. Or pay, pay and just keep paying. They have enough money, what they don't have is the backbone to do is cut what is needed to be cut. It's just all cocain to them, the more we give, the more they want.

Who voted for Duval again? I can't remember, but I know I didn't!
Good luck, I am leaving the state next month anyway, and this was the major deciding factor!
What a joke!!!!!!!

deval patrick turned out to be clueless. how were we all fooled so badly?
He just doesnt do anything except whine and complain . He fails miserably at getting people to work together. What an irony that his campaign line was " together we can"

He sits back and offers nothing. I would never vote for him again

he has become paul cellucci. just a lame duck

You voted these Leeches into office, your getting what you deserve.........

Together we can!

Where are all the thoughts about how communities could bring in non-tax revenue? Seems like the only answer is tax, tax, tax. And when we won't pay any more taxes, you simply cut the library hours, cut public safety budgets and lay off teachers. It is like you are punishing the taxpayer for saying no. Maybe we should stop electing these fools all of the time. I think my 10 year old daughter has a better grasp on finances than these fools.

Cities and towns should be reviewing the way they do business. If they operated more efficiently like the private industry does then they would not be spending nearly as much. Take one corporate financial audit team through the town and city halls and they'll find hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars in cost cutting. Stockholders can hold their companies accountable, why can't citizens hold their towns accountable?

You know, the root of the fiscal problems cites and towns have now began 40 to 50 years ago, and it's the same problem the US automotive industry has. You know what I'm talking about, don't you. The mayors are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Cut services, and residents will complain. Ask for more money to maintain services (via prop 2.5 override, increased fees, local taxes, etc) and what will the residents do? You guessed it - complain. I beleive most of these mayors are honest guys trying to do what is right for their residents. They are not to blame. Which brings me back to the root of the problem, which is the guarenteed health care benefits the municipal unions negotiated 50 years ago. Back then no one knew the average lifetime of these workers would increase as it has, while the cost of health insurance woud be where it is. Cities and towns pay HUGE amounts to cover the cost of health care for the RETIRED municipal workforce. Who amoung you would stand up and tell some 80 year old guy who was promised healthcare for life for the fourty years he worked for the town that he's on his own now? You can't do that, and neither can Ford, GM and Chrysler, who are all failing because of the costs associated with the RETIRED union workers. Vent if you must, but a big part of the problem is honoring the union contracts of yesteryear, and this country will not recover until the generations that are collecting on those contracts stop doing so. The real lesson is right there in front of us - it's not going to help us but id we learn it our children won't have to suffer throught this same problem.

If these folks want to save money, and I am referring to the mayors and town managers throughout the Commonwealth it should start with themselves. I have to pay for my own gas, my own car along with parking fees to go to work and I do not get an expense account to wine and dine whom I please. Why don't you all buy your own car, pay for your own meals, and gas. This initself would be a wonderful start. To suggest "More Broad Based Taxes" for the residents of the Commonwealth is ridiculous. Enough is enough, how much is to much when it comes to more taxes. I for one cannot afford to pay anymore. I barely make it as it is living pay check to pay check. Instead of suggesting more taxes let's get the folks who have there hand sin the till on the job. No more freebies such as welfare, food stamps, or healthcare all things I worked hard for my whole life.

.

If there is one silver lining in this whole depression mess it is the exposure of the total waste of taxpayers money at ALL levels of government, we see it every single day in every newspaper in the country, but we as taxpayers STILL don't see the trimming of the excess in government payrolls that should be occuring.
As a matter of fact what we see is the opposite, MORE government hiring and MORE patronage (hello Deval) and this creates more and more outrage, which should have come a long time ago, and now finally we have the makings of a sixties style revolution to force some change, REAL CHANGE!!

Most of the commentators here typify right-wing talk radio: lots of noise, mean-spirited, no solutions. Many of the services provided by local government are essential to the welfare of the young, the elderly, and the poor. Some thoughtful suggestions--with a more humane attitude--will help everyone get through this difficult time.

Yes, municipalities need and deserve state funds for infrastructure, public safety and education. HOWEVER, municipalities must first rein in the excesses that are within their staffing, salaries and union contract/practices (eg, overtime, police details, step raises, lifetime medical benefits with hmo's, etc.). Only then will the legislators and the rest of the state take the pleas seriously. Also, legisislators and their staff must step up to the plate and rollback their salaries and beneits to end-FY2008 levels across the board with no conditions on restoration.

Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone, Our Massachusetts resident Communist.

Change, believe. the audacity of hope, hope over fear, yes we can

I'm just trying to remember all the silly slogans Deval and his friend Obama used during both campaigns.

Why is it so hard for politicians to live within a budget? Enough already with raising taxes. Let's go back to basic for a while. Yes parents and teens should pay fees for non-essentials like art, sports, and music. Let's face it, the great majority of us won't be making our living as an athlete, musician, or artist.

My small city still has a recreation department running programs and staffed by 1/2 dozen people. Um...hellooooo..... nice but not essential right now!!! Can you say HIATUS?

Just let the smokers pay for it, seems like everything else is paid for by smokers.
On February 4, 2009, President Obama signed the "Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009." This reauthorization increased the federal cigarette tax by 61 percent. The last time it was increased was to pay for the cancer patients from smoking, turned out the had so much money they didn't know what to do with it so they started using it for road work and anything they pleased