Page 16 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MAy 9, 2025 passage of a $61.47 billion fi scal 2026 state budget. A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE “MAKING OF THE BUDGET” Most of the decisions on which GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 30,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications. MASSterList will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Saturday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: www.massterlist.com THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of April 28May 2. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week. All roll calls in the House were on matters relating to House representatives’ amendments are included or not included in the budget are made behind closed doors. Of the more than 1,650 budget amendments proposed last week, most of them were bundled into consolidated “mega” amendments. This year there were seven mega amendments and all were easily approved on roll call votes. The system works as follows: Individual representatives file amendments on various topics. All members then pitch their amendments to Democratic leaders who draft consolidated amendments that include some CITY OF EVERETT - LEGAL NOTICE - BOARD OF APPEALS 484 BROADWAY, ROOM 24 EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS 02149 To Whom It May Concern: This notice is to inform you that a public hearing will be held on Monday May 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM, Everett City Hall, 3rd Floor George Keverian Hearing Room. All interested parties may attend and opinions will be heard regarding the following petition. Whereas a petition has been presented by: Property Address: Map/Parcel: Property Owner: Proposal: The existing building is non-conforming as to the following requirements: - Section 4.C.2.b – Lot area: Required is 7,000 SF for Two-Family and 0.5 FAR for Three-Family; existing is 4,368 SF. - Section 4.C.6.a – Combined side setback: Required is 16 feet; existing is 11.2 feet. - Section 4.C.6.a – Northwest side setback: Required is 4 feet; existing is 2.8 feet. - Section 17.A.1 – Parking: Required is 2 spaces per dwelling unit; existing is 0 parking spaces. Converting the existing Two-Family dwelling to a Three-Family dwelling will render the structure more nonconforming by intensifying use of the structure and undersized lot. A special permit is required pursuant to Section 3.C of the Ordinance. In addition, the plans provided indicated a proposed driveway and parking area, but no parking plan is provided. The Applicant must either demonstrate the provision of two new parking spaces that conform to the requirements of Section 17, elect to participate in the Transportation Demand Management provisions of Section 35 or request a special permit to increase the existing parking nonconformity pursuant to Section 3.C. Rebecca Edmondson Korom - Chairman Roberta Suppa - Clerk of Board of Appeals May 02, 09, 2025 55 Reed Ave. Everett, MA 02149 M0-02-000201 55 Reed Ave. LLC 84 Central Ave. Medford, MA 02155 of the individual representatives’ amendments while excluding others. The categories of consolidated amendments include many subjects including programs relating to public safety, judiciary, energy, environmental affairs, housing, labor and economic development. Supporters of the system say that any representative who sponsored an excluded amendment can bring it to the fl oor and ask for an up or down vote on the amendment itself. They say this system has worked well for many years. Opponents say that most members do not bring their amendment to the floor for an up-or-down vote because that is not the way the game is played. It is an “expected tradition” that you accept the fate of your amendment as determined by Democratic leaders. HOUSE APPROVES $61.47 BILLION FISCAL 2026 STATE BUDGET (H 4000) House 151-6, approved and sent to the Senate a $61.47 billion fi scal 2026 state budget after three days of debate. The House version now goes to the Senate which will approve its own version. A House-Senate conference committee will eventually craft a compromise plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration and then sent to Gov. Maura Healey. “The House’s fi scal year 2026 budget makes key investments that better support Massachusetts students and families, that increase access to affordable health care and that provide for a safer and more reliable public transportation system – all without raising taxes,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “In a moment of incredible uncertainty at the federal level, our budget is proof that government can be both fi scally responsible and an agent of good, the kind of government that our residents deserve.” “This budget builds off the successes of the last few years by prioritizing our residents,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “Whether it is greater investments into programs like housing stability, public transportation or early education, these initiatives are a refl ection of our shared values. By reinvesting in the people of the commonwealth, we will continue to make our economy more competitive and equitable for years to come.” “The fi scal year 2026 budget is a bloated budget that is not attached to the reality of our fi scal situation, and there is a multitude of reasons I could not support it,” said Rep. Ken Sweezey (R-Hanson). “Although there are many good aspects relating to municipal funding that I was happy to see included, it does not go far enough in that realm and continues to poorly prioritize funds. With the fi scal uncertainty relative to the federal government, it is reckless to pretend that this budget should be business as usual and support a budget increase of 7 percent yearover-year and nearly 50 percent in just six years.” “Beacon Hill has once again shown its commitment to secrecy over sound fi scal policy,” said Paul Craney, executive director of the Mass Fiscal Alliance. “The House tacked on $81 million in new spending over their original proposal. The last three days showed the House has no fi scal restraint. This was negotiated behind closed doors and rammed through massive, opaque consolidated amendments … At a time when the state is facing declining tax revenues, increased outmigration and deep structural budget challenges, lawmakers should be tightening the belt, not throwing more money into a budget crafted in the shadows.” (A “Yes” vote is for the budget. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes MUNICIPAL TAX AMNESTY (H 4000) House 25-132, rejected an amendment that would authorize cities and towns to conduct a municipal tax amnesty program over a two-month period, as determined by the local legislative body, any time prior to June 30, 2027. It specifi cally authorizes communities to waive any or all penalties, fees, charges and accrued interest if the original overdue tax assessment is paid in full. “This proposal would clear the way for the fi rst municipal tax amnesty since 2003,” said BEACON | SEE PAGE 17
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