Category: budget

More town meeting liveblog

OK – I’ve been here for almost an hour so – just to catch you up: we’re moving through Article 4: the Budget appropriation after something of a slow wind up as the various committee and board heads provided preludes…

Town Meeting live blogging…

Getting up to speed… Well, its budget night at Town Meeting at long last. And, as any family who has sat down to do their books in the last year can attest – budgeting in the middle of a recession…

How we get over(ride)…meeting tonight

With a vote on a proposition 2 1/2 override due on the ballot on June 14, its time to get organized and make sure that the override passes. There’s an important meeting of the Warrant Committee, School Committee and Board of Selectman on Wednesday and an organizational meeting tonight for those interested in joining the campaign in support of a Proposition 2 1/2 override vote. Check it out!

Upcoming events: Community Dialog and state budget talk

Two events to put on your calendar: an October 13 chat with Massachusetts House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Murphy on the state of the State’s budget. Then set aside the evening of October 27 for an important Community Dialog on the future direction of the public schools.

Progress on P.I.L.O.Ts Monday Evening

The Board of Selectmen will hear a proposal from the Board of Assessors tomorrow night (Sept. 14) at 7:45pm regarding the Town’s tentative plans to seek Payment in lieu of Taxes (P.I.L.O.T) agreements from the many, large non profits that are located in Belmont.

Comparing stimulus plans: Great Depression vs. Great Recession

$38 million in federal stimulus funds for Belmont? You betcha! That was the value, in today’s dollars, of a town plan, approved by the federal government, to rapidly modernize Belmont after World War II.

Proposed MBTA service cuts could hit Belmont

Courtesy of Rep. Will Brownsberger’s Web site: The MBTA’s 72 and 78 bus routes could be discontinued and weekday and weekend service cut in half on remaining routes to help the agency balance its books. The T will hold public hearings to discuss possible service cuts in the coming weeks.

Proposed cuts from House, Senate would hit education hard

Proposed cuts to local aid and a variety of programs supporting public education programs could hit Belmont, and other towns, hard.

School Committee meeting Tuesday is opportunity to speak out against cuts

Federal stimulus money may not avert staffing cuts. The School Committee meeting at Chenery Middle School Tuesday at 7:30 PM may be your best opportunity to speak out against cuts to teaching and support staff in Belmont’s Public Schools.

State’s fiscal freefall could jeopardize local aid

A precipitous drop in State revenues could jeopardize local aid payments and eviscerate funding for social services and education. Suddenly “Read my lips: No new taxes!” doesn’t sound so cool.