Jan 30, 2007 6:19 pm US/Eastern
Dozens Of Local Towns In Financial Trouble
by Joe Shortsleeve
SAUGUS (WBZ) ―
At least ten percent of the cities and towns in Massachusetts are having serious budget problems.
At Saugus town hall grumpy residents were showing up today to pay real estate taxes.
People like Patrick Patti who is mad his bill has doubled in recent years. "I got that bill and I almost had a stroke."
Depite higher taxes Saugus faces a $3 million deficit.
Saugus is in really tough shape. The town manager says the only way out is a multi million dollar override but Saugus residents have always said no.
"At the moment we are holding our own. However the future looks very bleak," said Saugus Town Manager Andrew Bisignani.
So bleak that Saugus has turned to the state for help.
In fact, WBZ has learned 34 communities
(see below for full list) are now trying to work out budget problems with the state Department of Revenue.
Communities like Salem, Marlborough, Canton, New Bedford, Plymouth and Saugus.
State Revenue Commissioner Alan Lebovidge was asked if he thought cities and towns would go bankrupt or into receivership in the next couple of years.
"I hope not. I don't believe so. I think that would be terrible for the state. People will focus and we will find solutions to problems," said Lebovidge.
The South Shore community of Rockland is searching for solutions. Also on the list, it's infrastructure is crumbling and jobs are on the line.
The state Secretary of Finance says soon, towns could be pressured to share costs.
"We are looking for ways to create incentives for comunities to go together in some regional clusters at least for provisions of some services," said Leslie Kirwan.
Many small towns are on the razor's edge. So many that the Deptartment of Revenue now has now created a waiting list.
Here's a list of the 34 communities with budget problems.
Ashfield
Ashland
Ayer
Becket
Blackstone
Canton
Clinton
Dartmouth
Groton
Hadley
Hampden
Hopedale
Ipswich
Lawrence
Littleton
Lowell
Marlboro
Maynard
Medway
Middleborough
New Bedford
North Brookfield
Paxton
Pentucket RSD
Plymouth
Rochester
Rockland
Salem
Saugus
Seekonk
Sharon
Southbridge
Sunderland
Swansea
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