Yesterday, legislation to help finances in Lawrence moved forward as the Ways and Means Committee issued a favorable report on the bill, thus preparing it for debate by the full House of Representatives.
But I don’t really think the bill is a big step forward because it doesn’t go far enough to protect taxpayers and to ensure a good result. I voted "no" on the bill coming out of the Ways and Means Committee.
The basic problem is that the bill opens up $35 million of financing to the city without setting up appropriate oversight. The bill does appoint an overseer to help the city manage its finances, but it stops short of appointing a finance control board.
I think the more-sweeping powers of a control board are necessary to make sure the $35 million is well spent and that Massachusetts taxpayers don’t ultimately become responsible for paying this money back or bailing out the city any more.
There’s no question that Lawrence needs our help. Regardless of how this mess developed in the first place, Massachusetts can’t turn its back on one of its largest communities and its people in their time of need. But it’s both fair and responsible for us to put protections in place to make sure that any financing package will work and that taxpayers in other communities – many of which are also struggling these days – don’t end up paying the price for what happened in Lawrence.
You can read more about the bill and my thoughts about it in this story in today’s Lawrence Eagle Tribune. A vote is scheduled for next week. It remains to be seen how some of my colleagues will react to this bill; many are skeptical about it and want questions answered. I will keep you posted on what’s happening in the debate.
Until then, what do you think? Do you support helping Lawrence this way, or do you favor the added protections of a control board? Please post a comment below and let me know what you think.
