Region – Gov. Deval Patrick is fond of saying that the commonwealth is ahead of the curve when it comes to recovering from the economic recession, but that's done little to cheer municipalities across the state that will face cuts to local aid in the coming year. Patrick's fi scal year 2012 budget proposal includes a 7 percent cut to local aid, representing some $65 million. The budget proposes signifi cant cuts to higher education and health care and the elimination of some 900 state jobs.
