BOSTON – The Patrick administration is asking for a record $1.4 billion bond authorization to invest in parks, recreational facilities and roadways around the state.
"The commonwealth needs parks, farmlands, and recreational facilities that are second to none, in order to attract new residents and visitors, and enhance our quality of life," said Gov. Deval Patrick in a statement.
The bond bill, filed Friday, is nearly double the size of the last environment bond bill, passed in 2002, and is in line with the governor's commitments to protecting open space from development and enhancing recreational facilities for all citizens, according to his office.
The funding authorization is based on the administration's five-year capital investment plan and related debt affordability analysis published in August. The billion energy and environment bond bill is designed to upgrade and maintain transportation infrastructure and recreational facilities operated by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.
The Patrick administration has said it's dealing with millions in deferred maintenance at parks around the state, a problem that Lt. Gov. Timothy Murphy referred to in a visit to Pittsfield recently.
The bond bill provides $665 million in borrowing authority for infrastructure and park assets. This bond authority includes $250 million for design and construction for DCR bridges in dire need of repair and reconstruction. Bridges likely to receive attention include the Woods Memorial Bridge in Everett and bridges in the Charles River Basin, pending the results of a sequencing study to determine the optimal order of repair and reconstruction.
Also included in this bonding authority is $75 million in borrowing authority for urban parkways and $213 million for other spending on state parks, urban reservations, harbor islands, hiking and biking trails, swimming pools, skating rinks and campgrounds.
"This bond bill advances Governor Patrick's priorities – land conservation and upgrading of assets in the care and custody of our state parks agency," said Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles in a statement. "It provides the bonding authority to give the citizens of the commonwealth the great open spaces and the great parks, beaches, and recreation facilities they deserve."
For land conservation, the bond bill authorizes $355 million, up from $250 million in the 2002 bill, allowing the administration to meet its goal of investing at least $50 million per year under the five-year capital spending plan announced in August. The five-year projected spending plan represents a 65 percent increase over annual land protection spending in the past four years and 24 percent over annual spending from 1993 to 2003, adjusted for inflation.
Spending on land preservation cuts across agencies and programs, but going forward will reflect Patrick's three priorities:
Commonwealth Urban Parks: visionary urban parks located in neighborhoods where outdoor recreation is lacking.
Commonwealth Habitat Reserves: saving the remaining large, undisturbed blocs of natural habitat for future generations and as destinations for "green tourism."
Commonwealth Working Landscapes: preserving agricultural and forest lands as viable enterprises that also maintain the rural landscape of Massachusetts.
State-funded conservation programs can leverage a great deal of investment in land protection by private land trusts and municipalities. Based on past experience, Patrick's commitment to at least $50 million a year in state land acquisition and conservation restrictions should leverage an additional $75 million annually in municipal, land trust, federal, landowner gifts, and other private fund raising, according to his office.
In addition, conservation restrictions obtained by towns and land trusts working with conservation-minded landowners, which may reach 10,000 acres this year, often abut state-protected land, adding another $40 million in land conservation associated with state land programs. It is estimated that the state is losing more than 40 acres of open space a day.
"Many communities are seeking to preserve their defining landscapes before they're overwhelmed by development pressures," said Whitney Hatch, regional director of the Trust for Public Land, in a statement. "We find that communities are stepping up to the plate, but more often than not, a state matching grant is an essential piece of the conservation puzzle. We need this bond to replenish those grant programs. We thank Governor Patrick for this wise proposal to invest in our irreplaceable resources, and we hope the Legislature will quickly approve a new environmental bond."
The bond authorization would cover the estimated five-year spending amount, say administration officials, and provides flexibility to fund additional spending if needed over the five-year period.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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