Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce’s Post

Vitally important to many many aspects of planning and development.

Today, I delivered Budget 2024-25, which is focused on delivering my common sense plan to lower crime and get more Territorians into work. Budget 2024 includes $1.2 billion in funding for public order and safety, and $723 million in social protection to lower crime and make our communities safer. Budget 2024 also delivers full funding to all Territory Government and brings the Territory’s education budget to a record breaking $1.34 billion. This investment is all about getting Territory students work ready. This is a common-sense budget, a budget that acknowledges our two highest priorities — keeping Territorians safe and getting Territorians working. For more info on the Budget, visit: https://budget.nt.gov.au/

These measures will allow non profits to actually deliver quality work, rather than cut corners to deliver the cheapest option possible. Pay parity, adequate funding and resolving the Irish VAT conundrum would be a great starting point. Also, running a pilot programme of fully-funded nonprofits from a range of sectors would be a sensible thing to do, to prove the effectiveness of proper funding. The third sector needs The Wheel to advocate for these measures!

Hey, everyone! Today I want to take some time to write about the looming fiscal cliff that SEPTA & other agencies are about to face now that federal relief money from 2020 is about to run out. A balanced, reliable, & equitable transportation system affects everyone. In a time where it feels like there are bigger problems in this world, if we can't get around properly we can't do much of anything. Some lives will be inconvenienced, others will be completely ruined. I'm a big believer in the "butterfly effect", and a broken transportation system will cause many knock-on effects. 1. Pre-2020 ridership hasn't caught up to previous levels, so if the $240M funding gap isn't addressed, there will be devastating service cuts across the SEPTA system (and for many other agencies across the state). Reasons are complex, but if we have any hope for a brighter future, less funding is the absolute opposite that is needed. 2. People, especially those in my community of NW Philly, have done a wonderful job of organizing support and calling/writing to Governor Josh Shapiro's office. The Governor will be giving his budget address on February 6th. I've been calling his office among many others to push HB 1219 as a priority in his address. This will increase the share of money from the state's sales tax for the Public Transportation Trust Fund from 4.4% to 6.4%. 3. In some excellent news, it sounds like the Governor DOES plan to propose $282.8 million in new state funding for public transit across the state in his upcoming budget. However, make sure you STILL call/write to voice your support for this move. The number to call is 717-787-2500. You can also text at 717-788-8990. You can also write to him electronically through this form: governor.pa.gov/contact/ 4. Also, please call your State Senator's office. This is critical as the Governor can be a strong "bully pulpit" for this, but the PA Senate has been a bottleneck in funding. 5. There will be conditions attached to any more funding, such as requiring SEPTA to come up w/ a real action plan to clean up and make the system safer. This is needed & good. We need a broad & diverse coalition across the state to support this!

What's in the SC budget conference committee report? Take 4 minutes to read our latest post and learn where taxpayer funds were appropriated. https://lnkd.in/gxedE4G2

Prime Minister, James Marape has stated that his government, since taking office in 2019, has ensured a fair distribution of funds to all districts and provinces. This statement comes in response to claims by Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill that the government is deliberately withholding development funds from 30 Opposition MPs. “Unlike under the O’Neill regime, since we took off in 2019, the Pangu Pati-led government has maintained fair distribution of funds to all four corners of our country,” Prime Minister Marape said. “All districts and provinces, whether their leaders are in opposition or government, have benefitted equally from service improvement funds (SIPs). “O’Neill should know very well that SIPs are based on government policy and are not constitutional grants. “Government policy interventions are focused on five key areas: Health, education, infrastructure, law-and-order, and growing the economy. “Opposition MPs may not be interested in working with the government to deliver these interventions; however, the government will deliver, regardless. “The government can invest directly into districts or provinces when the MPs concerned do not work with us to deliver on our focus areas.” Prime Minister Marape acknowledged that there may be instances when the disbursement of funds is delayed but assured that all dues will be paid up. He assured people throughout the country that no districts and provinces have missed out on their allocations. “Under the Pangu-led government, all districts and provinces receive what is budgeted for in good time,” Prime Minister Marape said in a media statement. “O’Neill, as he is known for, is smoking out hot air as normal to mislead our people. “He is known for holding back district and province funds during his time, something that does not happen under my leadership. “Since 2019, under my leadership, all districts have received their allocations, even during votes of no confidence, and on time. “O’Neill is a national leader, a former prime minister, and should tell the truth rather than mislead the people like his spin doctors. “He should be the last person to talk about my government being unfair when my government has supported major infrastructure developments in his Ialibu-Pangia district.”

The Utah legislature’s 45-day session began last Tuesday, January 15th, where both the House of Representatives and the Senate convened to set the tone, establish procedures, and start legislative business. Appropriation subcommittees met Wednesday to address base budget bills and consider budget cuts or reallocations. At a recent meeting Speaker Schultz mentioned that there were most likely going to be some budget cuts due to the modest revenue projects for fiscal year 2025.    After handling base budgets, the appropriation subcommittees will review funding requests from state agencies and stakeholders for new one-time or ongoing appropriations. The subcommittees will then rank and prioritize these requests, sending them to the Executive Appropriations Committee (EAC) for consideration. The first half of the session involves this process, while the latter half sees the EAC making final funding decisions and drafting supplemental appropriations bills.    This year is projected to see a record number of legislative bills proposed estimated to be nearly 1700 in total. These bills will be considered, voted on, and advanced in standing committees starting last Wednesday, and continuing until midnight on the last day of the session set for Friday, March 1st, 2024.    2024 House Majority Policy Priorities People - Families  - Taxpayers  - Health & Wellbeing  - Students & Teachers  Resources  - Water - Energy  - Lands - Stewardship  Accountable Government  - Fighting for Utah  - Government Efficiency  - Public Safety  - Higher Education  Future  - Housing  - Transportation  - Technology    2024 Senate Majority Session Priorities - Energy  - Justice Reform  - Water  - Education  - Homelessness  - Tax Cuts - Infrastructure - Social Media  - Affordable Housing    To stay informed during the session, you can email Lisa Furner at [email protected] to sign up for our legislative committee email list. Bill tracking sheets will be emailed to you directly each week - additionally any member is welcome to join us weekly every Thursday for Legislative Committee meeting held in person at the AGC offices at 12:30 (Lunch Provided) or via Zoom.

ICYMI (but its been hard to miss) the Federal Budget is being tabled next week on April 16 and I joined CTV News with Laryssa Waler Hetmanczuk Gurratan Singh and Rachel Aiello last week to chat about it! An extremely smart move by the Feds to unveil pieces of the budget over the last two weeks as part of a campaign-style pre-budget tour. It's allowed them to control earned media and the daily message and get the attention on key affordability measures that may otherwise be lost in the 500-page budget rollout next week. There's a clear plan in the window to tackle affordability especially across the housing spectrum (non-market, market and rental), through the new school lunch program and additional spending to support child care operators. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec notably have pushed back on federal dollars on everything from pharmacare, infrastructure spending, housing and school nutrition. Alberta has gone so far this week to say they'd introduce legislation preventing the transfer of federal dollars to municipalities for housing and infrastructure. My take? This pushback is going to get Premiers in trouble in their own back yards - you can't call fire and crisis on one hand and reject investment with the other. Canadians don't care which government is funding the project, they care that something is being done. Keep an eye out for more announcements this week!

🚨🚨🚨🚨 New grant now open applications accepted on a rolling basis A dollar-for-dollar competitive grant program from Northern Maine Development Commission for Aroostook County businesses established in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic. Awardees are eligible to receive funding in the form of taxable grant awards to assist them with creating new projects in the region. Maximum awards will not exceed $15,000 & will be reviewed by a committee to ensure sustained economic benefit to Northern Maine. Businesses that are permanently closed are not eligible for this funding. Businesses may apply for both the Northern Maine Business Relief Program and the Northern Maine Growth Fund but are only eligible to receive one award. This funding may not be used to offset tax liabilities, court judgments, or other ARPA-designated illegal uses of funds including political lobbying. Learn More & Apply Now: https://lnkd.in/ed4PF4En