Massachusetts Cities And Towns Seek More State Aid

The Massachusetts Municipal Association is calling for an increase in local aid equal to the growth rate in state revenues.

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   Under the revenue sharing plan, as the Massachusetts Municipal Association calls it, unrestricted local aid to cities and towns would increase by just under 4 percent, or $35 million dollars.  That is about $4 million more than the local aid increase proposed by Governor Patrick in his state budget. Association executive director Geoffrey Beckwith says  local aid has been slashed 32 percent since 2008 resulting in a greater  and greater reliance on property taxes.

   The MMA also wants an increase in state funding to cities and towns for road repairs.