Gov. signs $54M supplemental budget with storm recovery funds

Gov. Deval Patrick announced yesterday that he has signed a $54 million supplemental budget bill that includes $15 million to help mitigate state costs associated with recovery from severe storms that hit Central and Western Massachusetts on June 1.

The law also provides new tools for municipalities to expedite emergency borrowings.

“This emergency funding will help individuals, families and businesses owners across Central and Western Massachusetts begin to rebuild their lives,” Patrick said.

Senate Ways and Means Chair Stephen Brewer said, “The funding included in this bill is a step toward revitalizing the communities affected by the June storms and will address costs incurred by the state in responding to the storm, as well as provide assistance to residents through temporary housing and other services.”

The law eliminates the requirement for approval from the Legislature and the Municipal Finance Oversight Board for short-term municipal borrowing in the event of an emergency. It also allows communities to expedite emergency borrowings by allowing emergency borrowing for capital purposes for a longer term with the approval of the MFOB.

The law also allows communities affected by the tornadoes who have not adopted the local-option alternate property tax assessment date to adopt the provision specifically to provide tax relief to property owners affected by the tornado. Fiscal 2012 property taxes would be based on the damaged condition of the properties.

The law also provides $10 million in funding for the governor’s Safe and Successful Youth Initiative, a multi-faceted strategy aimed at eliminating youth violence. The administration said the goal of the funding is to bolster efforts in targeted communities and to help ensure that a full range of services are available and coordinated in each city and are reaching the young men most likely to commit or be victims of gun violence.

Other funding items in the law include:
• $14.3 million for a reserve to mitigate deficiencies at various sheriffs’ offices
• $10 million for estimated childcare caseload deficiencies
• $1.2 million to support one-time staging costs in line with reforms in the state’s family homelessness programs