How deep is that hole?

Number 50,000 sometime before 9:00 A.M. I think.

Well seems like the Governor is embarking on an ambitious educational plan, in addition to the transportation plan.  According to an article in the S-T, it will cost an additional $550 million dollars in FY 2014, to be paid for from new revenue, details of which will be forthcoming in today's state of the state speech.  I await the details with bated breath.

If the governor has his was we are going to get taxed to death for the transportation bill.  The new revenue for education, who knows, but I am willing to bet he is spending casino money he doesn't have.  If not specifically this year it will be a significant part of the funding for the multi-year plan.

All this after announcements in spending freezes and cut-backs for the current fiscal year, and with everyone assuming next years local aid figures are going to be stagnant at best.  If you don't have enough to do what you are doing, how long can you expect to be able to do more?

Both transportation and education are deserving and need more financial attention.  But at exactly what cost to everything else?

Just as a note, the mayor of New Bedford is quoted in the article as saying: "We in New Bedford have struggled with education funding levels for some time now,"

Seriously?  When you forego tax increases for how many years as a city, it isn't any kind of struggle funding your educational system.  It is a conscious choice to fund it locally only to the extent the law requires you to. 

Another great line in an S-T article is from the New Bedford teacher's union president about the state's legal opinion on innovation schools: "Anybody can say what they want but a court decides," he said.  

I guess we all should remember that when the unions tell us what the legal opinions should be.

But I digress a bit ...

Big cities love the kind of announcements made by the governor.  The big cities usually are the ones to benefit most from such increased funding.  

Oh well.

Moving on ... kind of ...

It seems a good thing the train is at the top of the governor's list in his transportation agenda.  If all the fees and taxes are passed, we will need it badly, because no one is going to be able to afford to drive a car or gas it up.

Locally ...

There is absolutely no reason any public meeting goes without being taped, and aired be it on line or through the access channels.  

Budget season will be shifting into high gear soon.  Using a four gear transmission we have probably just shifted into second gear, about two months two late.  By the end of this week I think you will find everyone has shifted to third, and by the last week of January, the engine will begin to approach the red line.  

Whether the engine gets taxed too much will depend on the proposed budget from the governor. 

I am hearing enough talk to conclude there is a serious attempt to recruit another candidate for the selectmen's office.  Whether that actually happens I suppose will depend on an individual's willingness to take a three year polar plunge.

I do need to make a trip to Town Hall today to check the "green book".  Always interesting to see who has taken out papers.  Admittedly, it can be disappointing to see no one less has.  

The only thing I know for certain about anyone running at this point is the fact it isn't going to be me.  After more than a decade of having worked my way back to the outer limits of reality, I have manged to move far enough away from the cliff to willingly jump into that abyss again.

Okay, that is it for today. Stay dry and be safe!