For months, the Legislature understood the likelihood that the Commonwealth would reach a point where we would need to make adjustments to our fiscal year 2009 budget. 

The Governor had requested from the Legislature, along with all constitutional officers and the judiciary, to cut seven percent from our operating budgets. But, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and I decided to reduce the Legislature's FY09 available spending by 10 percent.  The hope is that although there will be more budget cuts, these voluntary reductions will stem the tide of drastic, widespread cuts.  

Although Massachusetts is better off than most states, we are facing a decline in revenues that will result in tight budgets for the near future.  Complicating this situation is the issue of eliminating the income tax.  Even in the best economic times, this would have a devastating effect on our economy.

Revenues from our income tax represent $12 billion - that's 60 percent of our total tax revenues and 40 percent of the entire state budget. Gutting our state budget by 40 percent would have devastating consequences across the board, and no city or town would be spared.

Eliminating the income tax would lead to debilitating cuts in local aid, including education and public safety. That means laying off teachers, police and firefighters, closing schools, and shutting down road projects.

There would also be tremendous pressure to increase property taxes to help close the gap. The situation in Florida is a perfect example of this problem.

Time Magazine has reported that more and more Floridians are faced with unsustainable property taxes, with some homeowners having seen 100 percent increases over the last several years. And, according to a Zogby poll conducted last year, unreasonable property taxes are the major reason why 37 percent of all Floridians are considering moving out of state.

Those in favor of repealing the income tax say that every worker in the state would get back $3,600. But, that's not true. The "Campaign for Our Communities" estimates that "a person making $1 million a year in taxable income would save $53,000 ... while a teacher's aide earning minimum wage would save next to nothing."

That's because the income tax, unlike property taxes, protect low-and middle-income residents from paying an uneven share of their earnings. If you take it away, not everyone benefits.

Either way by eliminating the income tax and destroying services, or by raising property and sales taxes low- and middle-income residents will be hurt the most.

The fact is the income tax is not wasted money. It goes a long way toward maintaining and improving necessary services that we all depend on. We can't have good schools, paved roads, effective public safety, strong businesses and the best health care available if we are not willing to invest in ourselves and our quality of life.

Municipalities are already struggling to maintain their local budgets, and the next few years are going to be particularly bad. If we cut 40 percent of our budget, everyone loses.

Communities within the Plymouth and Barnstable District are now able to apply for a fiscal year 2009 Community Policing Grant.  The grant applications, which are administered through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's Office of Grants and Research, became available today. In the 2009 fiscal year, a total of $21.351 million will be available for the grants. 

These grants have always given our police departments a helping hand in protecting us, our loved ones and our communities. With the fiscal situation we are facing today, these additional funds become even more critical to the department and the community. I hope each community applies for Community Policing Grant funding.

Community Policing Grant funds can be utilized for community policing activities, programs, purchases, or construction. As a part of the fiscal year 2009 budget passed by the legislature, any community that received funds in fiscal year 2008 shall receive at least that amount in fiscal year 2009.

Information on eligibility and applications can be found on the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security website through www.mass.gov.

The Town of Bourne has been awarded $500,000 through the Commonwealth's Education Reserve Account. This funding provides the Town of Bourne with compensation for educating the children of military families. 

As have each of the Communities in the Plymouth and Barnstable District, Bourne has always made quality public education for all children a top priority, including the education of children of military families stationed at MMR. Although the federal government continues to fail to fully pay for these students' education, the Town accepts this additional financial burden.

To try and ease some of this burden, the Commonwealth is again stepping in where the federal government is lacking and is providing some financial relief from the cost of educating these children.

The grant funding has been available to Bourne since Fiscal Year 2005. The 2005 fiscal year was the first year that the Town of Bourne saw any type of additional funding assistance.

"The children of families stationed at MMR are Bourne's children as well and we will continue to step up and ensure they receive a top-notch education. This grant allows the Town of Bourne to better serve the children of our residents and the children of the military families stationed at MMR. We are grateful to President Murray for her continuing efforts to secure these funds and for her overall efforts in supporting education for all of the children in our community."

 -Bourne Superintendent of Schools,  Ed LaFleur.