February 9, 2015 Dear Municipal Leaders,

As the Baker-Polito Administration’s liaison to local officials, I am excited to write to you about some early actions our Administration has taken to support municipalities and local officials.

On our first day in office, we released $100 million in Chapter 90 funds, for a total $300 million annual commitment to local roads and bridges. Second, Governor Baker signed his first Executive Order creating a Community Compact Cabinet (Cabinet) during the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Annual Meeting. Third, the Baker-Polito Administration elevated the Division of Local Services within the Department of Revenue, and we’re thrilled that your colleague, Brookline Deputy Town Administrator Sean Cronin, has agreed to become Senior Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Local Services.

As chair of the Cabinet, I will champion local government issues throughout the Administration and will work with you to create a true partnership between the state and cities and towns. Together, we will work to identify best practices and innovations that provide better, more effective government both at the local and state level.

The Baker-Polito Administration will use the Cabinet to bring together the relevant high-level state officials to develop and execute our commitments to municipalities. One task I will highlight is that we are working to identify unfunded mandates, onerous regulations, and bottlenecks in state government that inhibit the success of your cities and towns. In March, the Division of Local Services will circulate a survey to seek your input.

To hear directly from local leaders, I’ve already started a statewide tour to meet with municipal officials and I hope to be able to connect with you soon. I am eager to hear your ideas about how we can help you grow the economy, provide a quality education for every child, and responsibly manage your community’s budget.

I have attached a summary of the Executive Order, and I look forward to working with you to create a great Massachusetts.

Sincerely,

Karyn E. Polito Lieutenant Governor