Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Municipal officials across Massachusetts continue to express frustration about the Patrick administration’s decision to release just half of the expected Chapter 90 funding for fiscal 2014, saying the cut means fewer local streets will be repaired this summer and the cost of repairing neglected roads will be higher in the long run.
Newspapers across the state have published a series of editorials and op-ed columns in recent weeks supporting the MMA and local officials in their call for the release of the full $300 million that was called for in a bond bill that was enacted unanimously by the Legislature and signed by the governor in May.
“The cost of filling potholes, paving streets and rebuilding 30,000 miles of local roads is staggering,” wrote Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan, president of the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association, and MMA Executive Director Geoff Beckwith in an op-ed that was printed in numerous newspapers in early July. “Cities, towns and local taxpayers can’t fund this alone, which is why the state created the Chapter 90 local roads program 40 years ago.
“This is the time to invest more, not cut back,” the column concluded. “The Chapter 90 program is a necessary, affordable and money-saving way to improve the quality and safety of our roads, build our economy, create jobs, protect local taxpayers, ensure equity across the state and return new tax dollars to every single community.”
In a May 31 letter, Transportation Secretary Richard Davey notified cities and towns that the governor had decided to release only $150 million for Chapter 90 – $50 million less than last year – pending resolution of a transportation finance bill that remains a point of contention on Beacon Hill.
Municipal officials took their concerns directly to the administration during the June 11 meeting of the Local Government Advisory Commission in the governor’s office.
“Instead of a 50 percent increase [to $300 million], we got a 25 percent U-turn,” said Mayor Sullivan. “We’re frustrated.”
North Adams Councillor Lisa Hall Blackmer pointed out that the Chapter 90 program is widely supported because it creates jobs and produces visible results for taxpayers.
Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke pointed out that Chapter 90 “is an economic development tool,” adding that “incremental” release of the funding would delay many projects, thereby driving up costs for cities and towns.
In response, Administration and Finance Secretary Glen Shor said the administration is taking “the prudent and responsible course of action” by waiting until there’s a resolution on revenue.
“Depending on the final disposition of the transportation finance plan, it may be possible to release additional Chapter 90 funding at some point in fiscal 2014, for either the fall or spring [2014] construction seasons,” he said.
In interviews with newspapers around the state, local officials expressed concerns that the cut in Chapter 90 funding will delay or halt projects that have been planned for years.
Robert Moylan Jr., Worcester’s public works and parks commissioner, told the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, “Without the expected increase, projects will be delayed or deferred. It’s like playing musical chairs. But somewhere along the line, you run out of ways to cover that. All the projects after that point will be delayed.”
Oxford Public Works Director Sean Divolli told the Gazette that the town expected to receive more than $750,000 in Chapter 90 funding, but is now only getting $380,000.
“We’re getting half as much work done as we thought we would,” said Divolli, who represents Worcester County in the Massachusetts Highway Association. “My assumption is if any more money is released, it won’t be released in time for us to be able to use that money this construction season, so the costs continue to go up. Any delay in funding means we get less done for the same amount of money.”
In Townsend, selectmen were planning to send a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick urging him to release the full $300 million in Chapter 90 funding. Town Administrator Andrew Sheehan told The Lowell Sun that selectmen discussed an ongoing road repair project on Wallace Hill Road that has taken three years to complete due to inadequate funding, leading to complaints from residents.
“We have plans that would far exceed what’s available,” Sheehan said. “It will really impact our plans for this year. When Chapter 90 is your only source of funding, you won’t get very far.”
Mansfield Town Manager William Ross told the Mansfield News that bids on many projects, including milling and repaving, have been awarded and are waiting for the guarantee of Chapter 90 reimbursements.