Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Legislature yesterday sent to Gov. Deval Patrick a fiscal 2010 supplemental budget bill with more than $200 million to fund state health care and shelter programs that were in danger of running short of funds due to higher-than-expected caseloads.
The bill also includes $6.3 million for cities and towns to cover the cost of the special U.S. Senate election held on Jan. 19.
To help pay for the spending, the budget bill would reduce appropriations in about a dozen accounts that are expected to end the year with a surplus.
The final bill did not include $2.1 million to reimburse cities and towns for the cost of locally provided veterans benefits, a provision that was in earlier versions of the budget bill.
Other supplemental budget bills are expected to be adopted as the fiscal year draws to a close and more precise information is available about shortfalls and surpluses.