MORE "MEZZ MONEY" HELPED HAMPSHIRE COUNTY - Mezzatesta Changed Funding Rules

(05/03/2004)

By Dianne Weaver A state education official says House Education Chairman Jerry Mezzatesta used his political clout to divert $679,000 meant to help eleven counties that had higher student enrollments. The Department of Education's finance director says he protested but carried out Mezzatesta's directive, indicating he did not want to buck the political figure. The directive is likely to have violated the state law related to school funding. The change helped seven other counties -- including Mezzatesta's home county of Hampshire. Lawmakers last year appropriated one-point-nine million dollars to 18 county school systems with growing enrollments. The disclosure is added to a growing list of ethical concerns related to Mezzatesta. Voters in Hampshire County will likely re-elect the delegate who has "brought home the bacon" for several years. Hampshire citizens refer to it as "Mezz Money."

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