SWIFT PLANS DEEP CUTS: D.A.R.E. PROGRAM, SEWER RELIEF FACE AX

Acting Gov. Jane Swift is poised to quietly annihilate scores of popular
initiatives - from smoking cessation to water and sewer rate relief - even
as she tries to cast herself as the election-year savior of school programs.

Swift's 2003 budget, to be filed tomorrow, includes $500 million in cuts
that whack everything from the huge state pension fund to the $4.3 million
D.A.R.E. program, which teaches kids to avoid drugs, administration
officials told the Herald.

``Oh wow - this blows me away,'' said Massachusetts D.A.R.E. Officers
Association President Leonard Johnson, when told of Swift's plans to
vaporize his popular program. ``This is unbelievable.''

Swift has also proposed wiping out a $20 million water and sewer rate
relief fund to cities and towns, stunning and angering cash-strapped
municipal officials and state lawmakers.

The 2.5 million people in 51 Greater Boston communities could face
double-digit percent hikes in their water and sewer bills, according to
local officials.

State Rep. Robert DeLeo, chairman of the Legislature's MWRA caucus, said
families already struggle with steep rates to subsidize the Boston Harbor
cleanup. People will have a fit if rates explode, he said.

``It wouldn't surprise me once again if we saw some of the revolts we saw
back in the early 90s, when ratepayers were burning their water and sewer
bills,'' said DeLeo (D-Winthrop).

An administration aide said the MWRA has about $100 million in ``rainy
day'' reserves, which could possibly be put toward rate relief.

Taking a drubbing in early election-year polls, Swift has been trying to
seize the mantle of popular causes, orchestrating weekend media leaks to
pump up her proposed $136 million boost for education.

The strategy seeks to dampen the sting of cuts aimed at partially filling a
$2 billion deficit. But it sits badly with Democratic lawmakers who control
Beacon Hill's purse strings.

``Even in good times, I find (Swift's) budget to be, at best, a thick press
release,'' said Senate Ways and Means Chairman Mark Montigny (D-New
Bedford). ``I would rather see honest, balanced budgets.''

In her budget proposal, Swift:

Eviscerates the state's anti-smoking program - slashing $44 million and
leaving just $19 million.

Slices $30 million out of charter school reimbursements, which soften the
blow for regular schools that lose students - and therefore dollars - to
charter schools.

Guts a $42 million local roadwork fund, which local public works
departments rely on to fill potholes and plow snowy streets. Local
officials say the cuts will be a deep blow to cities and towns.

``It's hard to imagine how communities could do anything but reel,'' said
Massachusetts Municipal Association chief Geoff Beckwith.

Widely recognized as the most successful anti-smoking campaign in the
nation, the anti-smoking program funds the critically acclaimed TV and
radio ads that have been credited with sharp drops in Bay State smoking rates.

Swift had initially planned to wipe out all $50 million from the adult
anti-smoking program, but sources said that sparked an internal skirmish
with her own public health commissioner, Dr. Howard Koh.

Koh launched a furious, last-minute lobbying effort, sources said. Swift
conceded to keep the skeleton of the program - but only by cannibalizing
$13 million from Department of Education youth programs.

``Spending money on a prevention program just doesn't fit the bill right
now,'' said one administration official.

And advocates fear the concession won't be enough to save the anti-smoking
campaign. Swift yesterday announced a unilateral, executive-level cut of
$17 million in this year's anti-smoking budget.

``We're really feeling like we were sucker-punched here,'' said American
Cancer Society spokesman Lori Fresina. ``It is devastating.''

State Rep. John Slattery (D-Peabody), a Democratic candidate for lieutenant
governor, demanded that Swift consider delaying the final, $450 million
phase of the voter-approved income tax cut.

``They're going to hurt the kids in the classroom,'' Slattery said.

The word on next year's looming budget cuts comes as Swift continues to try
to mop up the fiscal damage in the current year.

Yesterday, Swift said she would unilaterally impose $53 million in
immediate spending cuts, part of a plan to plug a $189 million hole that's
opened up since the current budget was passed two months ago.

The immediate cuts fall heavily on anti-smoking programs, kindergarten
expansion, dental plans and prostate cancer prevention.

Swift threatened to make massive cuts in education and human services if
the Legislature refuses to save $134 million by shortchanging the state
pension fund.

``I'm not happy about any of this,'' Swift said.