BEACON HILL BEAT
JANUARY 2007
DEVAL PATRICK
SWORN IN AS MA’s 71st GOVERNOR
In front of an audience of thousands, on the steps of the State House, Deval L. Patrick was sworn in as Massachusetts 71st Governor, becoming the first Democrat to be elected to the state’s Executive Office in over sixteen years. Although the newly elected Governor did not provide details of specific policy initiatives, besides committing to restructuring government agencies, he did note several challenges the state is facing, including the exodus of young workers from the state, high property taxes, and a deteriorating infrastructure.
The full text of Patrick’s inaugural address can be found on the Internet: BY CLICKING HERE.
Prior to January 4th, UCANE members met with a representative from Governor Patrick’s Transition Team to discuss issues important to water infrastructure and the construction industry. Among the items discussed were the importance of the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) programs, the need to override Governor Romney’s 9C cuts, including $25 million to the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund, the importance of increasing this funding in the FY 2008 budget, and the roles that EOEA, DEP, and OCD play in state government.
Governor Patrick has already announced several key Cabinet and Senior Staff positions including:
Cabinet Positions:
- Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs - Ian Bowles
- Secretary of Transportation & Construction - Bernard Cohen
- Secretary of Housing & Economic Development - Dan O’Connell
- Secretary of Administration & Finance - Leslie Kirwan
- Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development - Suzanne Bump
- Secretary of Public Safety - Kevin Burke
- Secretary of Health & Human Services - Dr. Judy Ann Bigby
Governor Patrick’s Senior Staff
- Chief of Staff - Joan Wallace-Benjamin
- Deputy Chief of Staff - David Simas
- Deputy Chief of Staff - Brendan Ryan
- Deputy Chief of Staff/Director of Communications - Nancy Fernandez Mills
- General Counsel - Ben Clements
- Director of Government Affairs - Mike Morris
- Press Secretary - Kyle Sullivan
back to top
DEP RELEASES FINALIZED CY 2007 CLEAN WATER & DRINKING WATER LISTS TOTALING OVER $523.5 MILLION
The DEP Division of Municipal Services released the Finalized CY 2007 Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) Intended Use Plan (IUP) lists totaling over $523.5 million. The IUP lists those projects determined to be the most significant in terms of public health and environmental benefit.
The DEP approved sixty-six Clean Water SRF projects totaling over $397.8, which includes thirty-seven New Construction Projects totaling $296.9 million, eleven Multi-Year Carryover Projects totaling $90 million, seventeen Planning Projects totaling $7.2million, and $3.5 million in emergency set-a-side funding. Even with the wastewater infrastructure funding available for 2007, the DEP was unable to address all the applications for SRF funding they received totaling over $1.5 billion.
For the Drinking Water SRF program, the DEP approved twenty-seven projects totaling over $125.7 million, including twenty-one New Construction Projects totaling over $93.7 million, five Multi-Year Carryover Projects totaling $29 million, and $3 million for emergency purposes that may arise over the year. Like the Clean Water SRF program, the DEP was unable to fund all the requests for Drinking Water SRF loans they received this year, which surpassed $715.8 million.
Once again the amount of available funding for SRF programs does not meet the demand for water infrastructure projects. UCANE will continue to work with the DEP, EPA, Water Pollution Abatement Trust (WPAT) in the State Treasurer’s Office, along with state and federal legislators to maximize SRF funding so that municipalities can accomplish their water infrastructure goals.
back to top
The MWRA Advisory Board released their 20th Annual Water and Sewer Rate Survey for 2006, which indicates that the average MWRA consumer is paying over $1000 annually for combined water and sewer services based on an annual consumption of approximately 90,000 gallons. The report shows the water and sewer retail rates for each community in the MWRA service area, and also compares MWRA rates to those of other cities and regions across the country. The combined water charge of $1,006 is a 6.3% increase over last year’s average of $946. Data from 2005 demonstrates that MWRA rates are among the highest in the country, behind Portland, ME ($973.68) and comparable to San Diego, CA ($901.70).
The MWRA Advisory Board was created by the MA legislature in 1984 to represent the interests of MWRA ratepayers and their communities, and is comprised of one representative from each of the sixty communities that receive water and/or sewer services from the MWRA, along with one representative from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). Additionally, six members are appointed by the Governor, plus one representative each from the Connecticut River Basin, the Quabbin/Ware Watershed area and the Wachusett Watershed area, along with two Board members representing organizations concerned with the recreation and commercial use of Boston Harbor.
Click Here for The Advisory Board’s full report
back to top
|
Fax: (617) 471-8939 
Scholarship Information