The federal Highway Trust Fund, which represents about one-quarter of total public spending on transportation infrastructure and transit projects across the country, is projected to run out of money by Aug. 29, according to the latest update from the federal Department of Transportation. The highway portion of the fund is projected to reach a critically…
Dear Senator, On behalf of the cities and towns of the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Municipal Association strongly supports S. 2023, An Act Financing Improvements to the Commonwealth’s Transportation System. In particular, we loudly applaud the appropriation and bond authorization to provide $300 million in Chapter 90 funds for the next five fiscal years. These…
The Honorable Brian A. Joyce, Chair The Honorable John F. Keenan, Vice Chair Senate Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets State House, Boston Dear Senator Joyce, Senator Keenan and Members of the Committee: On behalf of the cities and towns of the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Municipal Association strongly supports H. 3882,…
Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives State House, Boston Dear Representative, On behalf of the cities and towns of the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Municipal Association strongly supports H. 3860, An Act Financing Improvements to the Commonwealth’s Transportation System. In particular, we applaud the appropriation and bond authorization to provide $300 million in…
The MMA membership on Jan. 25 unanimously endorsed three policy resolutions that will guide MMA’s advocacy work this year on three key issues: local aid, zoning and land use reform, and other post-employment benefits (OPEB). The resolutions were developed over the summer and fall by MMA policy committees comprising local officials from across the…
From The Beacon, January 2014 It’s hard to think about late summer as being just around the corner, especially with ice and snow covering our rooftops and driveways. But when it comes to the local government agenda on Beacon Hill, the state Legislature’s July 30 deadline to complete action on all substantive legislation is almost…
His Excellency Deval Patrick Governor of the Commonwealth State House, Boston Dear Governor Patrick, On behalf of the cities and town of the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Municipal Association is writing to support key municipal and school aid programs for funding in the fiscal 2015 state budget recommendation that you will file in January.…
The Honorable Antonio F.D. Cabral, Chairman The Honorable Thomas A. Golden Jr., Vice Chairman House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets State House, Boston Dear Chairman Cabral, Vice Chairman Golden and Distinguished Committee Members, On behalf of the cities and towns of the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Municipal Association supports H. 3763,…
On Nov. 18, the MMA submitted extensive and detailed testimony to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government on a comprehensive zoning and land use reform bill. The bill, filed by Rep. Stephen Kulik and Sen. Dan Wolf, would make a number of changes to local land use policy. Among other provisions, the…
The Honorable Sarah K. Peake, House Chair The Honorable Linda Dorcena Forry, Senate Chair Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government State House, Boston Dear Representative Peake, Senator Forry, and Distinguished Committee Members, On behalf of the cities and towns of the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Municipal Association appreciates the opportunity to offer comment…
