Busy Agenda Set For 2010

JANUARY 4, 2010: The Massachusetts General Court is set to return this week, with full formal sessions scheduled in both the House and Senate. Legislative leaders are working to advance an education reform package that, they say, will put the state in place to receive $250 million in federal education aid.
Association officials are most interested in a pending proposal that would extend the Commonwealth’s and local pension funding schedules. While designed to lessen the financial pressure placed on the pension funds after the 2008 market crash, a funding schedule recalibration opens the door for the possible inclusion of a COLA base increase.

Funding schedule legislation may be advanced as part of the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget, which will be filed by Governor Deval Patrick in late January. The budget traditionally contains authorization for the annual state/teacher 3% COLA, as well as funding for the state's share of Group Insurance premiums.
Despite positive signs of improvement in November, state tax collections remain flat. This is overall good news for budget writers, who have struggled through 18 months of falling revenues. However, major concern remains as to how the state will close a $3 billion structural deficit in the coming year.