MMA letter calling for state to cover special election costs

His Excellency Deval Patrick
Governor of the Commonwealth
State House, Boston

Dear Governor Patrick,

The entire municipal community joins with you and the people of the Commonwealth in mourning the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy. We all recognize that while others will follow in his footsteps, no one will ever fill the Senator’s giant shoes. Senator Kennedy set a standard for public service that has shaped our communities, our state, and our nation, and we will always be grateful for his extraordinary work to build a stronger and more vibrant Commonwealth and country.

It is, indeed, exceedingly difficult to contemplate Massachusetts and the U.S. Senate without Ted Kennedy. Yet over the next several months, Bay State voters will consider and ultimately select a new Senator. You know this only too well, because you began this process when you set the special election calendar, with the special state primary election to be held on December 8, 2009, and the special state election to be held on January 19, 2010. As you know, municipalities are responsible for conducting and administering the election, and local officials are committed and dedicated to this task, and will ensure that this special election is conducted effectively, efficiently and professionally in every precinct in every community.

The fact is that this special election will impose significant unanticipated costs on every single city and town, and the cost of holding both elections (the primary and the general election) will easily reach well into the millions of dollars statewide. We are currently working with election specialists to estimate the full cost, but at a minimum we anticipate the expense to be in the range of at least $5 million to $10 million statewide.

Cities and towns have already set their budgets and have no way of raising revenues to pay for this election. Their only choices will be to reduce other services or drain what little reserves may exist in a few municipalities. Due to local aid cuts and the damaging recession, communities have already imposed deep cuts in services, layoffs and property tax and fee increases just to balance their budgets before this unanticipated cost arose. That is why, on behalf of the cities and towns of the Commonwealth, we are respectfully asking the state to pay the full cost of this election, using state stabilization funds or other available revenue sources. Specifically, we are asking you to file a supplemental appropriation bill to allocate sufficient funds to reimburse cities and towns for the costs associated with the December 8 and January 19 elections, and we are asking the Legislature to enact this supplemental appropriation as soon as possible.

The process of conducting this special state election has begun. Local officials mourn the loss of Senator Kennedy and will administer this election in keeping with the high standards of public service and dedication to the public good that the Senator displayed throughout his extraordinary tenure. We note that the funding of this election is an urgent concern, and respectfully ask the Commonwealth to act without delay in providing this necessary funding.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey C. Beckwith
MMA Executive Director

Copies:
The Honorable Robert DeLeo, Speaker of the House
The Honorable Therese Murray, Senate President