Budget Process

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said yesterday he was hopeful that expanded gambling would be part of the House budget deliberations next month but cautioned that he, Senate President Therese Murray, and Governor Deval Patrick need to come to an agreement before it comes to the House floor. DeLeo said the trio had very preliminary discussions about expanded gambling, and he expects to have a more detailed conversation when the governor returns from his trade trip to Israel and the United Kingdom, which ends on March 17. “Hopefully, the Senate president, the governor, and myself will sit down and...

Several area lawmakers are mounting a push to boost state education aid to school districts that fall below a minimum funding level set by the state. The effort comes as communities, notably Swampscott, are voicing unhappiness that the $145.6 million in increased school aid proposed by Governor Deval Patrick for next fiscal year is not targeted at meeting the state's longstanding pledge to bring all districts up to the minimum funding. When the governor announced his increased aid proposal, "We were all doing cartwheels," said Swampscott Selectwoman Jill Sullivan.

EVEN BEFORE President Obama introduced his 2013 budget on Monday, the condemnatory e-mails from Republicans were rolling in: The budget raises taxes, especially on the rich; it does nothing to rein in entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid, the biggest drivers of projected future deficits; and it cuts military spending, a move that most Republicans abhor. Summing up the feelings of his Republican caucus, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan dismissed the president's blueprint as "a political document" that wasn't going anywhere.

EVEN BEFORE President Obama introduced his 2013 budget on Monday, the condemnatory e-mails from Republicans were rolling in: The budget raises taxes, especially on the rich; it does nothing to rein in entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid, the biggest drivers of projected future deficits; and it cuts military spending, a move that most Republicans abhor. Summing up the feelings of his Republican caucus, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan dismissed the president's blueprint as "a political document" that wasn't going anywhere.

At Monday's meeting, the Board of Selectmen plan a preliminary discussion of the fiscal year 2013 budget process for the Manchester Essex Regional School District. Part of that discussion will be dates for joint meetings that will include selectmen and the finance committees from both towns, plus the regional school committee. The Monday meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at TOHP Burnham Library on Martin Street. - David Rattigan

Several area lawmakers are mounting a push to boost state education aid to school districts that fall below a minimum funding level set by the state. The effort comes as communities, notably Swampscott, are voicing unhappiness that the $145.6 million in increased school aid proposed by Governor Deval Patrick for next fiscal year is not targeted at meeting the state's longstanding pledge to bring all districts up to the minimum funding. When the governor announced his increased aid proposal, "We were all doing cartwheels," said Swampscott Selectwoman Jill Sullivan.

By Theo Emery, Globe Staff WASHINGTON -- Senator Scott Brown says he will vote against a House GOP budget that proposes overhauling Medicare, saying the current system should be improved instead. Senator Scott Brown "While I applaud [House Budget Committee Chairman Paul] Ryan for getting the conversation started, I cannot support his specific plan — and therefore will vote “no” on his budget," Brown said in an op-ed published this morning on Politico.

Andrew Maylor, who has been selected for the vacant town manager post in North Andover, says he has a handful of projects to finish before leaving his town administrator's post, likely in mid-December. Maylor said he would like to help advance the volunteer project to build a new playground at Jackson Park, as well as get the budget process for fiscal 2013 up and running. He also would like to help the town select a contractor for building a new police station, and submit a capital article for $1.8 million toward the $2.4 million renovation of Blocksidge Field, which he said would...

University of Connecticut officials have scheduled two forums this week to discuss the potential for increases in tuition rates and fees next year. UConn Chief Financial Officer Richard Gray will make presentations Monday and Thursday about the university's budget process, its funding priorities and financial challenges, and other topics. The gatherings come as UConn trustees prepare to start discussing the 2012-13 budget, including tuition and fees for students on the main and regional campuses.

Stoughton's town manager is again raising the hackles of local school officials by proposing a budget that gives a more than 11 percent increase to public safety departments but only 2.5 percent to the schools. Francis Crimmins said his proposed fiscal 2013 budget reflects his feeling that schools have gotten more than their share in recent years while other departmental needs have gone unmet. But the town manager's allocation, which follows a similar move last year, is seen by some as unreasonable to the schools and smacks of power-grabbing or, at least, an unhealthy deviation...

After a year of anticipation that a property tax increase would be necessary to avoid drastic cuts in Wellesley's school programs, better-than-expected budget figures appear to have eliminated the need for a Proposition 2 1/2 override. The School Committee last week approved a $62,640,548 spending plan for the coming fiscal year that preserves programs at all the town's schools - and adds a few enhancements - while meeting the guidelines set by the Board of Selectmen. The committee trimmed $663,205 from the figure initially recommended...

Stoughton's town manager is again raising the hackles of local school officials by proposing a budget that gives a more than 11 percent increase to public safety departments but only 2.5 percent to the schools. Francis Crimmins said his proposed fiscal 2013 budget reflects his feeling that schools have gotten more than their share in recent years while other departmental needs have gone unmet. But the town manager's allocation, which follows a similar move last year, is seen by some as unreasonable to the schools and smacks of power-grabbing or, at least, an...

By Jessica Bartlett, Town Correspondent Hingham officials have begun the budget process for the coming fiscal year, which is projected see a 1.66 percent budget increase overall. Town officials are working on finalizing each department's budget in the coming weeks as department heads visit with selectmen to discuss their needs and restrictions. At the moment, the town is facing a $1.2 million deficit for fiscal 2013, which begins July 1. "Sounds like a large number. It is. But it's much smaller than what previous numbers have been at this pint in time," Town...

University of Connecticut officials have scheduled two forums this week to discuss the potential for increases in tuition rates and fees next year. UConn Chief Financial Officer Richard Gray will make presentations Monday and Thursday about the university's budget process, its funding priorities and financial challenges, and other topics. The gatherings come as UConn trustees prepare to start discussing the 2012-13 budget, including tuition and fees for students on the main and regional campuses.

In the shadow of a bipartisan congressional supercommittee struggling to meet a deadline next week to approve a long-term blueprint to reduce federal budget deficits, a secondary show opens today on Capitol Hill when the House is scheduled to begin debate on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. The resolution, almost identical to one that nearly passed in 1995, faces long odds in a deeply divided Congress because it will require significant Democratic support. It could gain the necessary two-thirds majority in the Republican-controlled House, but has less chance of clearing the...

Andrew Maylor, who has been selected for the vacant town manager post in North Andover, says he has a handful of projects to finish before leaving his town administrator's post, likely in mid-December. Maylor said he would like to help advance the volunteer project to build a new playground at Jackson Park, as well as get the budget process for fiscal 2013 up and running. He also would like to help the town select a contractor for building a new police station, and submit a capital article for $1.8 million toward the $2.4 million renovation of Blocksidge Field, which he said would...

By Milton J. Valencia, Globe Staff A former state representative testified in the corruption trial of Salvatore F. DiMasi today that he felt “honored” to sponsor a budget amendment on behalf of the former speaker that dedicated at least $4.5 million to business intelligence software for the state Department of Education. Former House speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi Former representative Robert Coughlin of Dedham said he did not know anything about the software, but that he thought it was appropriate to support new technology and...

After months of study and discussion, the Newburyport Charter Commission has issued a preliminary report that recommends the mayor serve a four-year term, as opposed to the current two-year term, and be compensated $98,000 annually. The commission also is recommending that the city’s budget process become more transparent, and that the charter be reviewed every 10 years. The proposed changes will be placed on the November ballot, though some provisions — including the mayor’s term — would not take effect until November 2013 if approved by the city’s voters.

At Monday's meeting, the Board of Selectmen plan a preliminary discussion of the fiscal year 2013 budget process for the Manchester Essex Regional School District. Part of that discussion will be dates for joint meetings that will include selectmen and the finance committees from both towns, plus the regional school committee. The Monday meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at TOHP Burnham Library on Martin Street. - David Rattigan