Selectman Lyons again calls for fairness on state aid
March 3, 2003, letter from Selectman Charles Lyons to Mass. senators and representatives
[NOTE: This letter represents Lyons' views.]
With some assistance from Finance Committee Chairman Allan Tosti, I've attached an Excel spreadsheet indicating increases in state aid to Arlington, local aid in total to all cities and towns, and health-care costs increases in Arlington all since 1995.
When state Sen. Bob Havern mentioned [at a Budget Task Force meeting March 1] there has been a major increase in local aid for a number of years, that statement is not true for the Town of Arlington.
Matter of fact, Arlington's discretionary local aid has increased by only 31.79 percent since 1995, as compared to an increase of 74.30 percent to all cities and towns.
Health-care costs in Arlington alone have increased 113.96 percent since 1995.
Gov. Romney's aid formula decreases local aid by over $7.5 million to Arlington by 2005. This level of state support to Arlington would resemble the amount of state aid we received in 1981, the first year of Proposition 2 1/2.
I strongly urge our legislators to make local aid to Arlington a top priority during the upcoming state budget deliberations. Reject the Romney distribution formula and ensure fairness and equity are the principles upon which any new distribution formula is based.
Source: Charles Lyons, Allan Tosti
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