Senate Releases $34 Billion Budget Proposal

Ways & Means Committee budget falls short of many of Gov. Deval Patrick's proposals.

The Massachusetts State Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday released a fiscal year 2014 budget proposal that is just shy of $34 billion and which falls short of several of Gov. Deval Patrick's budget recommendations. According to the Boston Globe, the Senate $33.92 billion budget would increase spending by 4.4 percent as opposed to Patrick's budget, which hikes spending by 6.9 percent. The Senate budget is roughly in line in terms of spending with the $33.8 billion House budget proposed last month. The Globe reported that the Senate budget increases spending for elderly services and special education but does not reach Patrick's recommendations for expanding transportation and providing universal childcare access. Committee …

• Photos (1)

You Ask...Patch Answers

Who is Running For Beacon Hill's City Council District?

Competition is fierce to replace longtime serving city councilor Mike Ross for the District 8 seat.

As of Monday, May 13, which was the last day to pull nomination papers, nine candidates were in the race for Beacon Hill's District 8 city council race.  Those candidates are: Angelica Elle Addivinola of the West End, Thomas Joseph Dooley III of Beacon Hill, Richard J Giordano of Roxbury, Garrett D. Hauck of Roxbury,  Gloria Murray of Roxbury, Michael Joseph Nichols of Fenway, Julianna Clare Strout of Beacon Hill, Gregory B. Timilty of Beacon Hill, and Josh Zakim of Back Bay. The District 8 City Council seat represents the West End, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Fenway, Mission Hill and Brigham Circle neighborhoods. City Councilor Mike Ross has held the seat since 1999. Ross announced his bid for mayor earlier this year.   The nine candidates …

• Photos (1)

New Push For August Meals Tax Holiday

The state's Restaurant and Business Alliance said there was "no sign of opposition" at a hearing this week.

The Joint Committee on Revenue in the Massachusetts legislature held a hearing this week on the notion of a potential meals tax holiday for August and one supporting group liking its chances. According to the state's Restaurant and Business Alliance (R.A.B.A), the hearing held Tuesday for the Meals Tax Holiday Bill saw "no sign of opposition" to the measure. Twelve legislators have signed on to the bill primarily sponsored by Rep. Keiko Orrall of Lakeville and Sen. Michael O. Moore of Millbury. If passed, the legislation would go into effect from Sunday, Aug. 11 through Thursday, Aug. 15. "We should offer a Meals Tax Holiday to benefit employees and small local business owners inside Massachusetts to help stimulate the economy," said Dave …

• Photos (1)

Menino: Don't Let Candidates 'Tear This School System Down'

The outgoing Boston leader cautioned residents not to focus too much on the negative as the mayoral race heats up.

Mayor Tom Menino cautioned Boston residents not to focus on negative portrayals of the Boston Public School system as the city’s mayoral race heats up. Speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new playground at Harvard-Kent Elementary School in Charlestown on May 10, Menino touted the progress public schools have made in recent years and asked residents not to allow anyone to “tear this school system down” in the coming months. “We’ve made a lot of progress in the Boston Public Schools in the last several years. It’s because of a lot of reasons—teachers, principals, the superintendent, the community—and I tell you, the graduation rate is up, dropout rates are down, more kids are going on to college,” Menino said. He spoke of how the …

• Photos (1)
• Videos (1)