Even more big cuts could come to state government

"Reducing local aid midyear will absolutely have a very painful impact on communities across the state," said Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. "The result would be very painful cuts that would take years to recover from."

The last time there were midyear cuts to local aid was in January 2003, when Governor Mitt Romney sliced $114 million. Romney cut more than $500 million in state aid between 2002 and 2004, and about 14,500 teachers, police offices, librarians, and others lost their jobs in those years.

Romney was lambasted for making those cuts, and local officials say they have never recovered; after adjusting for inflation, cities and towns receive $566 million less than before Romney's cuts, Beckwith said.

Patrick has forged a more amicable relationship with municipalities, and local officials avoided criticizing Patrick directly yesterday. Still, cuts that slash deep into municipal budgets could begin to strain the relationship.

"We're going to see a replay of several years ago if this goes through, drastic cuts to public education, public works, public safety," said Joseph A. Curtatone, the mayor of Somerville, where local aid makes up nearly a third of the $165 million operating budget.

If he is going to cut local aid all most local politically active people ask is that you just tell us now. DONT wait until midyear to do it, thats how budgets get out of control.