Standing committee on business report

Mr. Foley's report on the Standing Committee on Business meeting with the City Council subcommittee on Education (there has to be a shorter way of saying that). After an intro that included a joke that his subcommittee doesn't get to have meeting that children sing at, he said a great deal about the good productive conversation that was held. He also then ran through the sticking points: grant % hike, Medicaid reimbursement.

Some new information through: as I mentioned yesterday, the news from the state included cuts in education ('though not in Chapter 70 funding). Brian Allen went into more detail on this: among other things, the so-called "circuit breaker" funding for special ed looks like it's going to be funded at something more like 50-55%, rather than the 70% it is now. This could mean a $1.2 million loss for Worcester for FY10. They're still going through the House budget and running the numbers in the Business Office, so we'll get more information as they have it.

It would behoove us all to get in touch with the House delegation, however, and tell them how very NOT GOOD this budget is. I hasten to add, it isn't good for Worcester education, but the loss in local funding is really going to hurt the city. It also includes a substantial cut in regional system transportation funding, which is all those buses that get the Wachusett, Algonquin, Tantasqua, Quabbin, etc. kids to school. That's a HUGE hit for those communities.