By Katie Curley Katzman
NEWBURY — In the wake of announcements made this week that Triton will cut 13 positions and teachers, state lawmakers are saying there isn't much that can be done.
Under Gov. Deval Patrick's "9C Authority" — cuts that the governor can make without approval by lawmakers — a cut to regional school districts will mean a $305,000 reduction in transportation reimbursements and $85,000 in special education transportation for the Triton School District.
In early November, to balance the state's budget, Patrick announced an $18 million cut to regional school transportation reimbursements.
Massachusetts General Laws require that when projected revenue is less than projected spending, the governor must act to ensure that the budget is brought into balance. State legislators voted to give Patrick authority in the fall. Since regional transportation falls under the Department of Education, Patrick was able to cut transportation reimbursements.
Education Secretary for the state, Paul Reville, said because of the tough budget season, decisions such as whether to cut regional school transportation reimbursements had to be made.
"We had to close a $600 million gap, and while education has been largely protected over the past two fiscal years from substantial reductions, everyone had to contribute to strategies we employed to present a balanced budget that matched spending with available revenue," Reville said. "Even with the tough reductions to some of the education funding, we were able to fully protect Chapter 70 — the main source of state aid to cities and towns for education — to record levels this year, with the state providing over $4 billion across Massachusetts."
Regional transportation reimbursements were originally part of reforms put in place by the state in the 1990s for regional school districts that reimbursed them for increased transportation costs.
"This has never been fully funded since 1993," state Rep. Harriett Stanley said. "Contrary to the e-mails I've been getting, the Legislature had no control over this. The governor, under 9C powers, cut this line item, and there is nothing we can do about it."
Stanley, D-West Newbury, said once the governor was given 9C authority, he was able to cut whatever he wanted from the state's budget.
"We can't overturn it," Stanley said. "The governor cut it."
Stanley said the cut to the regional school district reimbursements is a local aid cut, and while she has been talking to the Administration of Finance, she is getting nowhere fast.
"We're asked to deal with it as part of the state's budget," Stanley said. "For the area I represent, this is the bulk of everything."
Stanley said the good news is the Legislature has voted against expanding Gov. Patrick's 9C Authorities, despite his push for expanded power.
"If we gave him the expanded authority, he would cut Chapter 70," Stanley said. "Remember, we didn't give him that power to cut into local aid even more. That's all we need."
Because transportation costs are fixed, districts will now have to come up with the money to fund transportation through other methods. Triton will discuss on Tuesdsay how they will handle the defect, either by laying off 13 positions or eight staff cuts and teacher furloughs, should the teacher's association vote for it.
"We understand that the reduction in the regional transportation aid is painful for some municipalities, and we remain committed to working with local officials to determine how best to manage through this unprecedented fiscal crisis," Reville said.
