Massachusetts House Speaker Bob DeLeo – the top Democrat in the House — says he will not back the governor’s plan to cut $25.5 million in direct state aid to cities and towns.
Governor Deval Patrick proposed the cut to help close a projected 329 million dollar budget shortfall.
But less than 24 hours after Patrick proposed it, Speaker deleo ruled it out.
In a statement, the speaker said he would not support a reduction in local aid because of the “vital role cities and town play in providing services and jobs.”
Geoff Beckwith is with the Massachusetts Municipal Association. He says Patrick’s proposed cut would arrive in the middle of the fiscal year, destabilizing cities and towns.
“This is money that communities were counting on to pay for essential services.”
Patrick’s budget chief says the administration doesn’t have a plan B.
At this point, lawmakers could come up with their own plan or do nothing and wait to see what happens in January.
