News from Office of Representative Timilty

State Representative Walter F. Timilty, recently, voted for an FY’15 Supplemental Spending Bill. The Fiscal Year of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts spans from July first until the following July first. For this reason, neither the executive branch, in this case the Baker-Polito Administration, nor the State Legislature are able to anticipate all contingencies; thus, the genesis of what are commonly referred to as “Supplemental Budgets”. For example, Representative Timilty believes that the most important components of this budget-vehicle are as follows:

1. $50 million for snow and ice removal.
2. $7 million Storm Reserve for Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard of the Commonwealth
3. Section 26 of the document permitting municipalities to amortize their snow and ice deficits over two years; rather than one year as, currently, required by municipal finance laws.

Commenting on this Supplemental Budget, Representative Timilty stated, “I am proud to support this budgetary-vehicle for several reasons. Chief amongst them is the fact that it will provide additional resources to continue to remedy the overwhelming snow and ice removal fiscal hardship that has befallen our Commonwealth. Moreover, this fiscal document, by allowing municipalities to amortize snow and ice deficits over two years, will create additional fiscal flexibility for cities and towns as they strive to provide traditional services for their communities.”