Cities and towns have been hit hard by the frequent cuts in local aid payments by the state. For two consecutive years, municipalities have been told by state leaders to revise their budgets mid year, which has wreaked havoc on critical local duties like fire and police protection, education, library services, and the like. Our cities and towns have fallen prey to the “fly by the seat of the pants” budgeting habits on Beacon Hill.

I served as a member of my hometown’s Board of Selectmen, and as Secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance in Massachusetts. I know first hand what happens to cities and towns when state government cuts local aid.

Politicians on Beacon Hill should stop trying to balance the budget on the backs of local governments. State government should be cut before local government – that hasn’t happened. We have 7,500 more state employees than we did in 2004. That’s wrong and that has to change.

I believe cutting local aid should be off the table right now. Long term, we need to offer cities and towns a more predictable revenue sharing model, one based on a defined share of state taxes.

I also believe that we should provide cities and towns with tools to help manage their budgets. I support providing cities and towns with health insurance plan design.

As Governor, I’ll put my experience to work, and promote policies in state government to help our cities and towns succeed.