Latest news with #UGGA
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
House freezes UGGA local aid
BOSTON (WWLP) – For the first time in several years, local cities and towns will not see an increase in unrestricted general government aid under the House of Representatives' budget proposal. This budget proposal levels unrestricted general government aid, or UGGA, one of the primary sources of state aid for municipalities, at $1.31 billion. This is very unusual, as state officials have increased this line item every year since early pandemic days, and they usually take great pride in increasing this funding. The local aid leveling breaks with Healey's approach; the governor proposed increasing funding by 2.2%–or $28.8 million–in line with the forecasted rate of tax collection growth. Instead, the House is proposing to increase other line items that benefit cities and towns, like increasing the per-pupil minimum for school aid, and helping school districts fund special education. The House minority leader, Brad Jones, says freezing UGGA could undermine efforts to increase funding in other ways, as municipalities can choose how to allocate UGGA funds themselves. 'If we're taking money that's completely eligible to be spent anywhere and using that to subsidize just education, I think we're taking it out of the left pocket to put it in the right pocket,' Jones told State House News Service. Jones is not alone in this viewpoint, municipal stakeholders are also weighing in on the necessity of allowing towns to spend state funds as they deem necessary in a time of relative fiscal uncertainty. The debate on this $61.4 billion House budget is set to begin in just under two weeks, and disagreement over this leveling of aid from state and local leaders is expected. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In rare move, House holds line on unrestricted local aid
BOSTON (SHNS) – Cities and towns would not see any increase in one of their largest sources of state aid under the budget proposal House Democrats rolled out Wednesday. The House Ways and Means Committee's $61.4 billion fiscal 2026 budget would level-fund unrestricted general government aid, or UGGA, at $1.31 billion. It's an account that elected officials usually take pride in boosting. If the House's approach prevails, it would be the first time since fiscal 2021 — which began early in the COVID-19 pandemic — that Beacon Hill did not increase that annual appropriation. Gov. Maura Healey in her January budget filing proposed boosting UGGA funding by $28.8 million, a 2.2% increase that mirrors the rate of growth that state budget-writers forecast for overall state tax collections. A House Ways and Means Committee spokesperson said the panel opted to increase other sources of local funding, including the per-pupil minimum school aid, instead of UGGA. 'Given the tight budget year, HWM decided to focus more of our local aid increases in education, which is why we allocated $150 per pupil for school districts, 100% charter reimbursement, and helping school districts with special education circuit breaker FY25 and FY26 costs in the supplemental budget the House passed last week,' spokesperson Blake Webber said. 'Those education items were one of the most prominent items the committee heard about from both members of the House and from municipalities as well.' House Minority Leader Brad Jones said he worries the UGGA freeze could 'somewhat undercut' the push to increase per-pupil minimum aid. He praised unrestricted government aid as one of the most flexible options for municipalities, who can use it on education, police, public works and other needs. 'If we're taking money that's completely eligible to be spent anywhere and using that to subsidize just education, I think we're taking it out of the left pocket to put it in the right pocket,' Jones said in an interview. City and town leaders rely on UGGA to supplement property tax revenues and support their local budgets. The funding stream is one of several in the local aid bucket, and House Democrats estimate their budget includes more than $9.5 billion in total local aid. Adam Chapdelaine, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, said his group would push for an increase in UGGA. 'The MMA and local leaders are deeply grateful for the House Ways & Means proposal's investments, including a historic increase for K-12 education, with $150 per student in minimum new aid,' Chapdelaine said in a statement. 'In a time of economic uncertainty, the MMA will continue to work with the Legislature during this months-long budget process to enhance investments in cities and towns, including Unrestricted General Government Aid, to address escalating costs and protect essential local services.' For years, state government increased unrestricted general government aid by the same rate as the anticipated increase in tax revenues. But in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, some municipal leaders said even that level of growth was insufficient to match inflation. While House Democrats are moving to freeze UGGA in a departure from Healey's approach, they also went beyond the governor's proposed increases to other sources of local aid. The House budget calls for $7.12 billion in Chapter 70 education aid, plus a $240 million minimum aid supplement, together about $40 million more than Healey suggested, according to a Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation analysis. Representatives are moving to double Healey's minimum aid per pupil, from $75 to $150. Jones suggested his caucus will 'look to see if there's a way in the budget to restore [UGGA], in whole or in part,' when debate begins the week of April 28. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
United States Golf Association announces 110 local qualifying sites for 125th U.S.
The United States Golf Association announced local and final qualifying sites for the 125th U.S. Open Championship. The historic match happens at Oakmont Country Club starting on June 12. It's a record tenth time the Open will be at Oakmont. The UGGA confirmed qualifying will happen between April 16 and May 19 at 110 sources in 32 states, Canada and Mexico. Competitors will complete 18 holes. Those advancing join exempt competitors in the final qualifications, which factor over 36 holes. That will happen in England and Japan in May, Canada in June and at 10 U.S. sites in May and June. 'It is of great importance that thousands of professional and amateur golfers with diverse backgrounds will once again have an opportunity to compete for a place in this year's U.S. Open and ultimately play in our national championship,' said USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer. 'Allied Golf Associations in the United States, Tours in Europe, Canada and Japan, and National Federations will collaborate in providing a path to the championship through both qualifying stages to historic Oakmont Country Club where the world's greatest golfers will compete.' The USGA also announced online entry applications for golfers are available. Information can be found by clicking here. The USGA got more than 10,000 entries for the 2024 championship held at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in North Carolina. It was the third time entries exceeded the 10,000 mark. Click here to see all the qualifying the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
