RMV cuts looming

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

BOSTON - The state's registrar of motor vehicles recently warned House members that proposed budget cuts may force her to close one-third of the commonwealth's registries, leaving local residents to wonder whether one of two local branches will be on the chopping block.

According to published reports, in a memo this week, Rachel Kaprelian warned House members that reducing her budget from the $50.3 million proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick to the $48.9 million budget proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee will force her to close 11 of the state's 35 branches. She reportedly went on to say that further cuts will increase customer driving time by 35 to 40 minutes and increase wait times past two hours in the branches that remain open.

Meanwhile, both of the local registries, on Russell Street in Hadley and Pleasant Street in Easthampton, have already reduced their hours and are either in need of or are currently having renovations done to their buildings.

Calls to state RMV officials were not returned Wednesday.

This past December, in an attempt to save about $40,000, both Hampshire County registries and a number of others changed their schedules to open a half-hour later than in the past, at 9 a.m. and branches that stayed open later on Thursdays began closing at 6 p.m., an hour earlier.

In March, the manager of the Hadley registry reportedly told employees that the office may be relocated because the owner of the building was involved in bankruptcy proceedings. Although they still remain open for business, the registry reportedly alerted the landlord to problems with the building, including a lack of handicap accessibility, flood damage, burst pipes and heating and air-conditioning problems.

The Easthampton registry, in the Eastworks complex, has been closed since Monday for a remodeling project and will not reopen until Friday, according to its Web site.

The House is expected to complete budget deliberations by Friday, before the bill is brought before the state Senate.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.