Massachusetts RMV Chief Warns Lawmakers of Branch Closings

Massachusetts egistrar of motor vehicles is warning House members she will have to close one-third of RMV branches if they cut her budget as planned.

Rachel Kaprelian said in a memo this week that trimming her budget from the $50.3 million proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick to the $48.9 million proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee will force her to close 11 of the RMV’s 35 branches.

Her budget last July was $57 million. She says any more cuts will force the branch closings, increase customer drive times by 35-40 minutes and push wait times past two hours in the remaining branches.

The House is expected to complete its budget deliberations by Friday, before the bill moves onto the Senate.