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Dollars and Sense: A letter to the Boston Phoenix Editor
Originally published in the Boston Phoenix
Your December 7 editorial, "Broke or Not?," does an excellent job of describing how a more transparent budget process could help the people of Massachusetts better understand what our government does and the choices we face. How much do we as a state spend on education, health care, public safety, and other important public services? How has this changed over time? Is the budget balanced, and what are the challenges ahead?
I was very pleased that you pointed to the recommendations of the Budget Transparency Project, convened by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center as a roadmap for producing a budget that people can understand and participate in shaping. I disagree, however, with your suggestion that there has been a lack of leadership from governor-elect Patrick. He has spoken consistently about his commitment to transparency. Perhaps more important, Patrick named two members of the Budget Transparency Project to chair his transition team on budget and finance and has asked them to make improving transparency a primary focus of their work.
There is every indication that this governor will provide strong leadership in restoring a sense of civic engagement, and will provide access to information that people need to make their participation real and meaningful.
Noah Berger, Executive Director, Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center
Your December 7 editorial, "Broke or Not?," does an excellent job of describing how a more transparent budget process could help the people of Massachusetts better understand what our government does and the choices we face. How much do we as a state spend on education, health care, public safety, and other important public services? How has this changed over time? Is the budget balanced, and what are the challenges ahead?
I was very pleased that you pointed to the recommendations of the Budget Transparency Project, convened by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center as a roadmap for producing a budget that people can understand and participate in shaping. I disagree, however, with your suggestion that there has been a lack of leadership from governor-elect Patrick. He has spoken consistently about his commitment to transparency. Perhaps more important, Patrick named two members of the Budget Transparency Project to chair his transition team on budget and finance and has asked them to make improving transparency a primary focus of their work.
There is every indication that this governor will provide strong leadership in restoring a sense of civic engagement, and will provide access to information that people need to make their participation real and meaningful.
Noah Berger, Executive Director, Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center
