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Romney's rush to spend

Boston Globe Editorial
June 7, 2004

GOVERNOR ROMNEY has proposed a $457 million supplemental budget to reflect an unexpected increase in revenues for the 2004 fiscal year, which ends June 30. Before the Legislature deals with that measure, it needs to deal with the urgent needs of the coming year. Extra money can support many essential programs.

Among them is the Department of Public Health's immunization campaign. The state provides vaccines for children, but it cut off money to inoculate adults against hepatitis A and B, pneumonia, and meningitis last year. The House would maintain that omission. The Senate would provide $25 million for comprehensive coverage, a better choice.

The Senate would be more generous to the Children's Medical Security Plan, which provides health insurance for the young. Low funding has forced 14,900 children onto a waiting list. The $21.37 million proposed by the Senate would cover them.

The House would better compensate cities and towns for their costs when students enroll in charter schools. Some school aid is diverted to the charter school as a result of each enrollment. The $37.7 million in the House budget -- compared with the Senate's $13 million -- recognizes that fixed school costs remain even when students leave. On local aid and other items, the two budgets are similar. Both budgets offer the beginnings of a commitment to early childhood education, which will become a major expense if adequately funded.

The state is benefiting from the national economic recovery, but the Legislature is still drawing down reserves to balance next year's budget. In his supplemental request, Romney proposes one-time spending on parks and highways, which is urgently needed. But these projects have to be balanced with spending on continuing programs.

Romney favors one-time spending in hopes it will lead to a tax cut, keeping much of the increased revenue away from government in the future. That would be a mistake. The state has too many underfunded responsibilities to reduce its revenues.

© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.

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