North Reading is in the midst of planning its budget for the 2012 fiscal year. But its process depends in large part upon aid it will receive from the state.

With North Reading’s budget intertwined with the state process, Patch sat down with state Rep. Bradley H. Jones Jr., R-North Reading, to talk about planning on Beacon Hill for the 2012 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Here are five things people should know about the state process:

1. Local aid. The biggest issue this year is the concern about whether local aid is adequate, Jones said. Gov. Deval Patrick’s budget proposal cut local aid to North Reading by 7.2 percent, to $1.39 million in fiscal year 2012, down from $1.5 million in 2011. Jones and the Republican caucus recently proposed a local aid resolution that would have established minimum levels of appropriations, but the measure did not go anywhere in the Legislature.
2. Health insurance. In January, Patrick proposed legislation that would require all cities and towns to join the state Group Insurance Commission or institute a program of equivalent value by the start of the 2012 fiscal year. The bill also would require municipalities to move eligible retirees into Medicare. The administration estimated the two measures would help municipalities save more than $120 million. Jones credited the governor for moving forward on health care, but he said some of the success of the proposal would depend on regulations that must be written.
3. Special education funding. Jones said one positive aspect of the 2012 state budget proposal was an increase in circuit breaker funding for special education. The governor’s budget proposed an additional $80 million for special education. Jones said school district costs can change dramatically during the course of a year, so the extra funding can help.
4. Help for snow and ice. State aid to help towns with snow and ice removal during the brutal winter is a possibility, Jones said. But he said he thinks any aid would have to come during the 2011 fiscal year, because 2012 will be tough for the state financially. He added that any aid being talked about would probably only be a drop in the bucket compared to the total snow-removal costs most towns are facing. North Reading has spent slightly more than $700,000 this winter, well above the $300,000 that was available.
5. The numbers could change. The House of Representatives expects to get a budget proposal from the Ways and Means Committee around the second week of April, Jones said. House debate should occur during the last week of April before the Senate begins its budget session, Jones said. Then a conference committee will have to reconcile the House and Senate versions. Jones said he expects to see the governor’s budget proposal change. “In some places, people don’t see the numbers add up,” Jones said.