http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/barre/ Barre, MA News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/barre/content/d3ea8417a700bf744fcaf2cc88a66e0a.html By DAN RING dringrepubcom BOSTON Nearly two months after passage of a state budget the Patrick administration and the state treasurer are warning that the spending plan could be up to 1 billion out of balance In a 99page report prepared last month for potential investors in state bonds Leslie A Kirwan the secretary of administration and finance and Treasurer Timothy P Cahill said the state could be facing 600 million in costs not factored into the 2816 billion budget and that tax collections could be 400 million short of projections for the fiscal year Legislators are poised to possibly return to formal sessions in November to vote on whether to give Gov Deval L Patrick expanded authority for cutting the budget during the fiscal year The report said a large portion of unexpected costs could come from skyrocketing energy prices The report also cited growth in services important in an economic downturn such as increased expenses for Medicaid a federalstate program that helps pay for health care for the poor and disabled and Commonwealth Care which provides subsidized health care for low and moderate income people Kirwan said today that she is also concerned about a possible shortfall in capital gains taxes raised largely from profits from the sale of stock The stock market is down about 20 percent from a peak after the Dow fell another 344 points today Kirwan said the administration is monitoring the state's finances and is putting into effect a management plan for dealing with potential revenue shortfalls Leaders of state agencies are developing plans to cut budgets should tax collections fall below projections used to craft the state budget While the report said tax collections could be 400 million less than projected this fiscal year Kirwan said it's too early to determine if that will actually happen We haven't yet seen a significant revenue loss Kirwan said We're going to be watching very carefully what happens State officials will learn more from tax collections in September Cahill cautioned in March that the state is spending too much He said Thursday that leaders in state government may not be heeding his warning Cahill said the state borrowed 500 million in August because of a cash shortage in state government the earliest in a fiscal year the state has ever borrowed to meet needs for cash flow There's no question we are spending money before we are receiving it Cahill said There's no question it's a real problem Cahill said the state may need to borrow again this month to provide an estimated 1 billion quarterly payment on state aid to cities and towns We'll keep putting up the warning signs as long as there are warning signs Cahill said Sen Stephen M Brewer DBarre the No 2 ranking member on the Senate Ways and Means Committee said that the chances are 5050 that legislators will return to Beacon Hill this year to deal with a possible budget crisis Patrick has asked legislators to vote to give him expanded powers to make emergency cuts throughout the budget including local aid the judiciary district attorneys and county sheriffs Right now Patrick can impose emergency cuts in executive branch agencies without legislative approval Patrick has said he wants the option to spread possible cuts throughout the budget to ease the pain Sen Michael R Knapik RWestfield the ranking Republican on Senate Ways and Means criticized the Democratcontrolled Legislature for approving too much spending in this year's budget Brewer said it was balanced when passed In July Patrick vetoed 1225 million from the budget but state legislators voted to restore 564 million of those vetoes http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/barre/content/307f1c0014370e9df935575edd0b0ad9.html MONTPELIER Two years ago the Montpelier teen center took a group of youngsters whitewater rafting in Maine using money from a federal grant to pay part of the 2100 cost http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/barre/content/45822ec72cf17b93250d2f8c6198d153.html WORCESTER A builder who failed to deliver on the promised construction of two modular homes after accepting down payments for the work was placed on probation and ordered to pay restitution yesterday after pleading guilty to related larceny charges http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/barre/content/e27670fabdd700a2b659f23550393dc0.html WORCESTER A builder who failed to deliver on the promised construction of two modular homes after accepting down payments for the work was placed on probation and ordered to pay restitution yesterday after pleading guilty to related larceny charges http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/barre/content/d0d5b39dd70cbc54217fd2e8020eaeda.html The medical van owned by Veterans Hospice Homestead of Fitchburg has the following schedule this week: http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/barre/content/18bd67f22a91598a6674e2ff75d21b8c.html TEMPLETON The Red Fox of Kinderhook Martin Van Buren will visit his native state between Sept 20 and Dec 31 but not at his hometown of Kinderhook NY but at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown NY http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/barre/content/701b6e84991e6856a8c570f5cd467004.html TEMPLETON The Red Fox of Kinderhook Martin Van Buren will visit his native state between Sept 20 and Dec 31 but not at his hometown of Kinderhook NY but at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown NY http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/barre/content/b94f98c30376be265d6d081ab5d78ab6.html Officers elected for American Legion District 4 are: Ray Samko Post 435 commander; Karen Davis Post 390 senior vice commander; Norman E Scott Post 429 adjutant; Robert Temple Post 189 finance officer; Steve Higley Post 142 assistant finance officer; Dave Peckham Post 279 historian; and George Roberts Post 279 chaplain