By Mr. Puppolo of Springfield, petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 1988) of Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the reduction of local aid for the cities and towns of the Commonwealth.  Municipalities and Regional Government.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

Anthony J. Verga

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

Thomas J. Calter

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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Resolve establishing a special commission relative to the effect of local aid cuts.

    Resolved,

A special commission is hereby established to investigate and study the effects of local aid cuts by the commonwealth. The investigation and study shall include, but not be limited to, examining the impact of local aid decreases by the state, on a city by city or town by town basis.  The investigation and study shall also focus on the disproportionate impact on municipalities resulting from this decrease where the local aid receipts constitute a large percentage of the municipality’s total budget.  The commission is directed to study the effects of language that would standardize the meaning of “disproportionate impact” and provide suggested reforms that would allow some flexibility to the municipality when faced with a decrease and in implementing the reduction.  The commission shall be appointed by the governor and shall consist of 10    members as follows: the house and senate chairmen of the joint committee on municipalities who shall serve as co-chairs of the commission, the house and senate chairmen of the committees on ways and means, or their designees, the speaker of the house of representatives, or his designee, the president of the senate, or his designee, the state auditor, or his designee, the commissioner of the department of revenue, or his designee, a representative of the executive office of administration and finance and a representative of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.  The commission shall report to the general court the results of its study, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry such recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerk of the house of representatives on or before December 31, 2007.