BEACON HILL BEAT
DECEMBER 2006
MWRA ADVISORY BOARD NAMES SENATOR TOLMAN & REP. ROGERS
LEGISLATORS OF THE YEAR
The MWRA Advisory Board recognized Senator Steven Tolman
(D-Brighton) and Rep. John Rogers (D-Norwood) for their
advocacy and legislative support of behalf of the rate payers
of the MWRA, by honoring them with the Legislators of the
Year Award. In particular they were commended for their
tireless work on behalf of the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief
Fund, from which municipalities throughout the state directly
benefit. Communities such as Fall River, New Bedford, Springfield,
and the MWRA have utilized this fund to directly reduce
increases to the sewer rates charged to homeowners. Only
a few years ago this vital program was funded at over $60
million, but it has been dramatically reduced over the years
because of budget constraints. Additionally, the Commonwealth
Sewer Rate Relief program is a perfect example of local
aid and how the state budget can have a direct and significant
influence in helping citizens throughout the state address
annual rate increases.
Supporting the Rate Relief program has become even more
critical as 2006 comes to a close because it was among the
many that Governor Romney cut in the FY 2007 state budget
several days after Deval Patrick was elected Governor. Using
special 9C authority, Romney made the cuts in response to
the legislature utilizing over $400 million from the Rainy
Day Fund for important budget projects. The majority of
the cuts were items that the Governor originally vetoed
and the legislature overrode this past June. The Governor
had eliminated the entire $25 million allotted for the Commonwealth
Sewer Rate Relief Fund.
UCANE contacted legislative leaders on Beacon Hill and
requested that they restore the cut. Currently, it appears
that the legislature will take up this issue at the beginning
of the next legislative session in January.
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DEP RELEASES DRAFT SRF LISTS FOR CY 2007 TOTALING OVER
$489 MILLION
The DEP Division of Municipal Services released the CY
2007 Draft lists for the Clean Water and Drinking Water
State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) programs, with a combined
total of over $489.7 million in projected work. The Intended
Use Plan (IUP) lists those projects determined to be the
most significant in terms of public health and environmental
benefit. Once the Draft Lists are reviewed and finalized,
the DEP will recommend the projects be financed through
the Water Pollution Abatement Trust (WPAT) in 2007. The
finalized SRF lists will be available in early 2007.
~ Clean Water SRF ~
The Clean Water SRF IUP Draft lists thirty-eight New Construction
Projects totaling $270,926,377, eleven Carry-over Projects
totaling $83,645,000, and seventeen New Planning Projects
totaling $7,270,966. The combined total financing for the
Clean Water IUP is $364,842,343. The DEP has proposed a
$25 million applicant cap for Clean Water projects.
~ Drinking Water SRF ~
The Drinking Water SRF IUP Draft lists seventeen New Construction
Projects totaling $93,905,900 and five Carry-over Projects
totaling $28 million. The combined total financing for the
Draft IUP is $124,905,900. Three million dollars has been
identified as special set aside funds to address emergency
projects that may arise during 2007. The DEP is required
to set aside 15% of the Drinking Water SRF grant ($22,141,600)
for assisting smaller communities, defined as those with
fewer than 10,000 customers. The DEP has proposed an applicant
cap for the Drinking Water SRF IUP of $15 million
GOVERNOR-ELECT PATRICK APPOINTS KEY STAFF POSITIONS
Deval Patrick has named Leslie Kirwan as his top budget
director to serve as Secretary of Administration and Finance
(A & F). Ms. Kirwan has served in state government since
the Weld Administration and is currently the Director of
Administration and Finance and Secretary-Treasurer for the
Massachusetts Port Authority. Prior to joining Massport
in 1999, she served as Undersecretary and Chief of Staff
of A & F and prior to that she worked at the Department
of Revenue as Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Local
Services.
Additionally, Patrick has tapped Joan Wallace-Benjamin
to serve as his Chief of Staff. Ms. Wallace-Benjamin comes
to Beacon Hill after serving as President and CEO for the
Home for Little Wanderers, New England’s largest child
welfare agency. Prior to that, she served as a consultant
for a global recruiting firm and for eleven years served
as President and CEO of the Urban League of Massachusetts.
Lt.-Governor-Elect Tim Murray also announced that his Chief
of Staff will be State Representative James Leary (D-Worcester).
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