Gov. Deval Patrick last week began a series of public hearings on the fiscal 2011 budget in order for Massachusetts residents to weigh in on next year’s spending plan.
Fiscal 2011 begins July 1. Patrick or a senior administration official will conduct each of the 19 budget meetings. The public hearings will allow residents to voice their spending priorities and ask administration officials questions regarding the upcoming budget.
“We are deeply committed to providing fiscal leadership in these challenging times that is based on our values,” Patrick said in a statement. “These forums will help us accomplish that goal, as we begin the fiscal 2011 budget process.”
The governor last month announced his plan to fill an estimated $600 million fiscal 2010 budget gap due to underperforming revenues. That strategy includes reductions to executive branch agencies and potential savings through labor contract negotiations.
