Ledoux: Acton Should Be OK Despite Cut in State Spending

Gov. Deval Patrick ordered spending cuts across state government on Tuesday to close a projected $540 million budget hole, the Associated Press reported.

Patrick blamed the economoic uncertainty caused by the looming ‘‘fiscal cliff.’’

But despite the cuts, the Town of Acton may not feel the pinch.

Town Manager Steven Ledoux said recent changes made this year will help cushion the blow.

"The Town is in the process of analyzing the impact of the 9C cut," Ledoux said. "For Acton, it is about $11,000. Due to some personnel changes, we should be able to absorb this level of cut. The bigger concern is how the 9C cut will effect FY14 Local Aid."

State Sen. Jamie Eldridge said he has reviewed the cuts and does have concerns in regards to the school district, the bussing of homeless students and council on aging, among others.

He also said serious discussions about taxation of the wealthy needs to happen at the municipal level.

An email to Superintendent Stephen Mills seeking comment on how the cuts may affect the school district was not immediately returned.

The governor said he would use his authority under state law to cut executive branch spending by $225 million, equivalent to about 1 percent of the budget for those agencies, according to the AP.

Patrick plans ask the Legislature to approve a similar 1 percent reduction in the budgets of the Massachusetts court system and other state constitutional offices and a $9 million cut in unrestricted local aid to cities and towns, the AP reported.

C.S.  1-ER Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Revenue FY2013

    NOTICE TO ASSESSORS OF ESTIMATED RECEIPTS

     General Laws, Chapter 58, Section 25A

ACTON

A. EDUCATION:

            Distributions and Reimbursements:

    1. Chapter 70

5,537,500

    2. School Transportation Chs. 71, 71A, 71B and 74

0

    3. Charter Tuition Reimbursements Ch. 71, s. 89

9,145

    4. Smart Growth School Reimbursements Ch. 40S

0

            Offset Items – Reserve for Direct Expenditure:

    5. School Lunch 1970, Ch. 871

10,872

    6. School Choice Receiving Tuition Ch. 76, s. 12B, 1993, Ch. 71

0

    Sub-Total, All Education Items

5,557,517

B. GENERAL GOVERNMENT:

Distributions and Reimbursements:

    1.  Unrestricted General Government Aid

1,183,155

    2.  Local Share of Racing Taxes 1981, Ch. 558

0

    3.  Regional Public Libraries Ch. 78, s. 19C

0

    4.  Urban Renewal Projects Ch. 121, ss. 53-57

0

    5.  Veterans' Benefits Ch. 115, s. 6

43,479

    6.  Exemptions: Vets, Blind, Surviving Spouses & Elderly
         Ch. 58, s. 8A; Ch. 59 s. 5

37,564

    7.  State Owned Land Ch. 58, ss. 13-17

53,777

            Offset Item - Reserve for Direct Expenditure:

    8.  Public Libraries Ch. 78, s. 19A                                  

26,691

    Sub-Total, All General Government                                   

1,344,666

C. TOTAL ESTIMATED RECEIPTS, FISCAL 2013              

6,902,183

C.S.  1-EC Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Revenue FY2013

    NOTICE TO ASSESSORS OF ESTIMATED CHARGES

     General Laws, Chapter 59, Section 21

ACTON

A. County Assessments:

    1. County Tax: Ch. 35, ss. 30, 31

0

    2. Suffolk County Retirement  Ch. 61, Acts of 2009, s. 10

0

    Sub-Total, County Assessments

0

B. STATE ASSESSMENTS AND CHARGES:

    1. Retired Employees Health Insurance  Ch. 32A, s. 10B

0

    2. Retired Teachers Health Insurance  Ch. 32A, s. 12

0

    3. Mosquito Control Projects  Ch. 252, s. 5A

57,881

    4. Air Pollution Districts  Ch. 111, ss. 142B,142C

7,354

    5. Metropolitan Area Planning Council  Ch. 40B, ss. 26, 29

6,907

    6. Old Colony Planning Council  1967, Ch. 332

0

    7. RMV Non-Renewal Surcharge  Ch. 90; Ch. 60A

8,100

    Sub-Total, State Assessments

80,242

C.  TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES:

    1. MBTA Ch. 161A, ss. 8-9;1974, Ch. 825, ss. 6-7

73,959

    2. Boston Metro. Transit District 1929, Ch. 383; 1954, Ch. 535

0

    3. Regional Transit Ch. 161B, ss. 9, 10, 23; 1973, Ch. 1141

68,565

    Sub-Total, Transportation Assessments

142,524

D.  ANNUAL CHARGES AGAINST RECEIPTS:

    1. Special Education Ch. 71B, ss. 10, 12

0

    2. STRAP Repayments 1983, Ch. 637, s. 32

0

    Sub-Total, Annual Charges Against Receipts

0

E.  TUITION ASSESSMENTS:

    1. School Choice Sending Tuition Ch. 76, s. 12B, 1993, Ch. 71

58,460

    2. Charter School Sending Tuition Ch. 71, s. 89

12,083

    3. Essex County Technical Institute Sending Tuition 1998, Ch. 300, s. 21

0

    Sub-Total, Tuition Assessments

70,543

F.  TOTAL ESTIMATED CHARGES, FISCAL 2013               

293,309

For additional information about how the estimates were determined and what may cause them to change in the future, please click on the following link: Local Aid Estimate Program Summary.

Released July 9, 2012