Baker Speaks to Municipal Leaders

Speaking to the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Governor Charlie Baker made one point loud and clear. He said, "Now, I've been a local official... Did I mention I'd been a local official?”

 Speaking to the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Governor Charlie Baker made one point loud and clear. He said, "Now, I've been a local official... Did I mention I'd been a local official?”

Baker wants Mayors and Selectmen around the state to know that - he gets it - when it comes to the challenges facing cities and towns.

Which is why his first order of business was to release 100 million dollars in Chapter 90 funds, money that's channeled to infrastructure projects and why he promised all things would be on the table when it comes to balancing a $765 million dollar budget deficit... Except local aid.

Baker said, "The path to balancing this year's budget for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will not run through the Commonwealth's cities and towns."

Baker also announced he'd just signed his first Executive order, the creation of a Community Compact Cabinet.

Chaired by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, she says it will elevate the level of municipal relationships adding, "So that the cities and towns and their leadership have a direct tie to the executive branch to really ... And to get a lot of this done together."

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, a Democrat, did not vote for Baker but does think he's living up to his campaign promises.

Driscoll said, "You can talk with Charlie and he will know things about the nuances of local government."

Driscoll says Governor Patrick was also a good partner, but other municipal leaders say he did not live up to the promise of cutting property taxes and that his often often had an indirect negative effect on cities and towns.

Mass Municipal Association Executive Director Geoff Beckwith says, "When Governor Patrick, in December/November, announced budget cuts, he did say that he wasn't cutting education aid. But he did cut $40 million dollars in programs that fund public schools at the local level."

Beckwith says Baker's background gives him confidence that when he says he won't touch local aid, he means in all forms.

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