Gov. Deval L. Patrick said yesterday he is not ready to call for a mid-year cut in state aid to cities and towns, preferring to wait for final numbers from September before deciding how to deal with a continuing shortfall in state revenues.Mr. Patrick, back at his office on Beacon Hill after hip surgery and controversies over the interim U.S. Senate appointment, said he hopes the Legislature votes by the end of the year on sentencing and criminal record reforms, education reforms, and possible revisions to local pension payment schedules to reduce local government pension costs.
The governor said pension schedule revisions would supplement new local option meal and hotel taxes approved earlier this year that he proposed to help communities offset reduced state aid and relieve pressure for property taxes.
A report from state Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill's office based on incomplete September revenues that indicated monthly receipts are again falling below budget estimates, triggered new concerns yesterday over the need for a new round of mid-year state budget cuts.
Mr. Cahill, who has announced he will run against Mr. Patrick next year, said with two days to go in collections for the month, revenues were off $316 million, and he estimated they may end up about $150 million short of projections.
The governor said predictions over possible new budget cuts — including local aid cuts — are premature and it is too soon to add up the monthly revenues.
UPDATE: More from Joe Battenfeld.
SECOND UPDATE: More from the Globe and AP.
THIRD UPDATE: More from the Globe, AP and Herald.