Rep. Peterson Op-Ed in The Worcester Telegram

CALLING ALL MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS
$450 million in diverted aid should go back to communities
By George N. Peterson Jr., Telegram & Gazette
Worcester, Mass.: Dec 14, 2007. p. A15

I, as well as Republican representatives of Central Massachusetts, champion local aid for cities and towns because we believe money is best spent at the local level by officials who know their communities and who know best how to provide essential services such as education and public safety to our citizens.

Unfortunately, the state has not abided by that philosophy in recent years.
When tough fiscal times hit the state in 2003, the Legislature voted to put a cap on the amount of local aid sent to cities and towns from state Lottery proceeds. Over the course of three years, the state withheld a total of $450 million from our cities and towns.

From the state's perspective, the cap of Lottery aid was a windfall. It helped grow the state's rainy-day fund by more than $1.5 billion, more than doubling what was in there to start.
But for local communities, the cap cost millions. They watched their own coffers decline as the state got richer, and many cities and towns were forced to cut back on services. Local officials throughout the state found themselves asking residents for Proposition 21/2 tax overrides just to make ends meet.

The money withheld from our communities during those three years, in the end, wasn't needed by the state after all and we strongly feel it should be reimbursed to them. I, as well as Reps. Paul Frost, Karyn E. Polito, Lewis G. Evangelidis, Paul J. P. Loscocco, Todd M. Smola, and the Republican caucus led by Rep. Brad Jones, recently filed legislation to immediately return all of the $450 million that the state diverted from local communities.

Our bill is fair, reasonable and affordable. The state currently has well over $2.2 billion in its rainy-day fund. Even if we returned the $450 million to cities and towns, we would still have over $1.8 billion in reserves.

The money would be given back as unrestricted local aid, so that cities and towns could use it for whatever they choose, including capital projects, property tax relief for residents or repair of local roads, bridges, dams or schools.

We encourage all local municipal officials and residents to look around their communities and imagine the many areas where this money could be put to good use, even if it is a one-time payment or reimbursement. The needs of our local communities are great, and this reimbursement to our cities and towns will go a long way for them.
It's our local communities' money, it's your money, and we in the Republican caucus want to return it to you.

So, we collectively ask for residents' support of House Docket 4651, and ask you to join us in pushing this legislation through the process. It's important for the rest of the Massachusetts Legislature and the governor to hear voters' voice of support.

Ask for your city or town Lottery aid reimbursement. It's money that belongs to you and your community. Returning the money is the right thing to do, and we will fight for it with your help.

(George Peterson is Mass. House Minority Whip.)