More Budget Cuts On Tap?
Mental Health Advocates Deliver Message To Patrick
POSTED: 6:09 pm EST December 16,
2008
UPDATED: 6:45 pm EST December 16,
2008
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BOSTON -- The state budget gap keeps getting wider, and it's looking like the commonwealth's down another $750 million.
More Budget Cuts On Tap?NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that the legislature is poised to give Gov. Deval Patrick the sole authority to cut in politically sensitive areas, like local aid.Mental health advocates came to deliver a message. Their timing could not have been better. Patrick unexpectedly returned to his office that moment."So remember us who don't have the resources because I'm poor and a lot of us are poor," said Jessel-Paul Smith, of Brockton."'I hear you," Patrick said."Keep us in your thoughts," Smith said."I hear you," Patrick said.But the governor wasn't ready to make any promises -- or answer any questions from advocates. Monday's predictions from his revenue commissioner that tax receipts will plummet another $750 million means another round of cuts."Probably at least another billion dollars -- at least," State Treasurer Timothy Cahill said."But if you cut $1 billion now, will you need to cut more later?" Wu said."Next year is going to be worse than this year has been. So the math tells you it is going to be even more dire. There will be less people working and less people paying taxes," Cahill said.Lt. Gov. Tim Murray announced $8 million in grants for homeless programs, which he said would prevent other expenses, like emergency room care and court costs, from spiraling upward. So where will they find $750 million?"It will likely involve some combination of cuts, potential revenues and the rainy day fund," Murray said.Meanwhile, the state treasurer had even worse news to deliver. Lottery sales are down nearly 4 percent in just three months."It's obviously going to have a negative impact on cities and towns," Cahill said.
More Budget Cuts On Tap?NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that the legislature is poised to give Gov. Deval Patrick the sole authority to cut in politically sensitive areas, like local aid.Mental health advocates came to deliver a message. Their timing could not have been better. Patrick unexpectedly returned to his office that moment."So remember us who don't have the resources because I'm poor and a lot of us are poor," said Jessel-Paul Smith, of Brockton."'I hear you," Patrick said."Keep us in your thoughts," Smith said."I hear you," Patrick said.But the governor wasn't ready to make any promises -- or answer any questions from advocates. Monday's predictions from his revenue commissioner that tax receipts will plummet another $750 million means another round of cuts."Probably at least another billion dollars -- at least," State Treasurer Timothy Cahill said."But if you cut $1 billion now, will you need to cut more later?" Wu said."Next year is going to be worse than this year has been. So the math tells you it is going to be even more dire. There will be less people working and less people paying taxes," Cahill said.Lt. Gov. Tim Murray announced $8 million in grants for homeless programs, which he said would prevent other expenses, like emergency room care and court costs, from spiraling upward. So where will they find $750 million?"It will likely involve some combination of cuts, potential revenues and the rainy day fund," Murray said.Meanwhile, the state treasurer had even worse news to deliver. Lottery sales are down nearly 4 percent in just three months."It's obviously going to have a negative impact on cities and towns," Cahill said. Copyright 2008 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
