Legislators fight for Lottery reimbursement
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Region - When the Massachusetts Lottery was created in 1971, it was done so with the condition that 100 percent of the proceeds would serve as local aid to the state's municipalities.

After decades of working within this confine, the state capped the amount cities and towns could receive for fiscal year (FY) 2004, FY 2005 and FY 2006, using additional revenue above the cap to balance the state budget.

With more than $2.25 billion in the state's rainy day fund, State Rep. Karyn E. Polito, R-Shrewsbury, said that now is the time to return those funds to municipalities.

Polito is co-sponsoring House Bill 4651, the Massachusetts Municipal Finance Relief Act of 2007, which would return $450 million to local and town governments.

"I think it's very important that the state keep its promise to cities and towns," she said. "This money doesn't belong to the state. It's the cities' and towns' money and we need to find a vehicle to get it back to them."

If passed as written, Shrewsbury would receive $1.52 million, Hudson would get $1.19 million, Marlborough would get $1.94 million, Northborough would receive $638,721, Westborough would receive $624,305, and Southborough would receive $261,984.

Although it would only be one-time funding, Polito said, she knows that every little bit counts right now.

"These are very difficult fiscal times for municipalities and they need this money, which it rightfully theirs, to balance their budgets," she said. "They need to say, 'This is our money. We want it back and we need it now.'"

She said that the state needs to reprioritize and make sure it's focused on saving what it has rather than what it could have.

"In the governor's budget there are a host of new initiative programs, good programs like full-day kindergarten, state-funded Pre-K and free community college education opportunities, but now is not the time to do that when we can't even maintain the current programs we have," she said. "We need to make sure we fix current problems before expanding government and adding new initiatives, because these programs don't help Shrewsbury and other towns balance their budgets in May."

Although she has received overwhelming support from government officials at the local level, Polito said, she hasn't had as warm of a reception from her colleagues.

"I'm hearing more excuses than commitments, and I think that's wrong," she said. "We need to keep the pressure on and have local officials keep banging the drum so this doesn't disappear."

But some Shrewsbury officials said that's exactly what they think will happen.

Shrewsbury Selectman James McCaffrey said he adamantly supports the bill and Polito's efforts, but is not confident the town will see any additional funding.

The governor's budget would cut an additional $124 million in aid to cities and towns throughout the commonwealth. At this point, Shrewsbury Town Manager Daniel Morgado said it's anyone's guess what will happen.

"This is caught up with the whole budget situation," Morgado said. "With casino gambling [reflected in the budget], the idea of funding is something we won't have a better sense of until the legislative workshop on March 8."

Polito encouraged anyone who would like to speak out in support of the Massachusetts Municipal Finance Relief Act of 2007 to direct their concerns to State Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth.