Here's a bit of surprising news I just came across: Don Carcieri has proposed suspending the Caruolo Act in years where the State cuts aid to cities and towns.  The Caruolo Act allows school departments to take their city or town to court for additional funding.  Instead of utilizing the courts, Carcieri has suggested having a 3 person panel hear complaints and come up with an action plan to remediate problems.  Besides helping towns balance the budget, it also takes some of the burden off the courts.

     This is a plan that is long overdue.  I find it amazing that the Caruolo act was ever passed in the first place.  Mayors and city councils have a responsibility to balance the budget for the entire city or town.  Allowing one segment of the municipality to use legal action is unfair to other departments and opens a can of worms.  Police, fire, and public works are all important to a city.  What's to stop a legislator from allowing one of these departments to file lawsuits?

     Don Carcieri is trying to do the right thing.  He's reducing aid to cities and towns, but he is giving them the tools to help them partially close their own budget deficits.  It's a great idea, but I suspect it will run into a lot of opposition.


http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/02/governor-propos.html#448089