Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Honorable Aaron M. Michlewitz, House Chair
The Honorable Michael J. Rodrigues, Senate Chair
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
State House, Boston
Dear Chair Michlewitz and Chair Rodrigues:
On behalf of all 351 cities and towns, I write today to express our appreciation for your leadership and offer comments on the recently filed FY2026 supplemental budget (H. 4251).
All across Massachusetts, municipalities appreciate the Legislature’s leadership during this era of uncertainty. Cities and towns are deeply grateful for the many investments found in the fiscal 2026 state budget recently passed and signed by the Governor. In particular, we applaud you for the historic increase in per-pupil minimum education aid — a wise investment with immediate and long-term benefits to students in all corners of the Commonwealth.
The fiscal 2026 budget highlights the House and Senate’s commitment to partnering with cities and towns, even as we face unfolding implications of federal policy actions. It is a strategic spending plan that offers stability to municipalities while wisely incorporating an $800 million “cushion” between spending and revenue expectations. This is an example of conscious, responsible budgeting that properly accommodates potential uncertainty ahead.
However, we are deeply concerned with Section 10 of H. 4251, which would prematurely expand the Governor’s 9C authority to allow potential reductions of all funding provided in your recently enacted budget. Expanded authority to allow cuts into areas such as local aid is absolutely unnecessary, and we strongly urge you to remove this section in its entirety.
We understand that Governors may offer these types of proposals from time to time, but such a provision would directly undermine the Legislature’s focused efforts to maintain a sound financial vision for the Commonwealth. This is why we ask you to once again reject such preemptive proposals, and remove Section 10 from the fiscal 2026 supplemental budget.
As you know, cities and towns are critical partners to ensure that the most fundamental of services are provided to residents. Our municipalities rely on state support — and the stability of this support — to provide these essential services and programs. Preemptively expanding this 9C authority is unnecessary and would threaten to destabilize local budgets, which are already navigating their own direct implications of federal policy actions, all within the restrictions of Proposition 2½ .
Thank you for your leadership during this critical time and thank you for always prioritizing a strong partnership with cities and towns.
Please don’t hesitate to have your office contact me or MMA Senior Legislative Analyst Adrienne Núñez at any time if you have questions or desire additional information.
Sincerely,
Adam Chapdelaine
MMA Executive Director and CEO
Cc:
The Honorable Ronald J. Mariano, Speaker of the House
The Honorable Karen E. Spilka, President of the Senate