Although far from the $105 million the court complex on Federal Street is expected to cost, this initial funding was seen as an important first step and the first real dollars awarded to a project that local officials have talked and dreamt about for years.

"It's great news," Mayor Stanley Usovicz said. "We have been looking for some kind of sign and commitment from the state and this is it."

Berry, the Senate majority leader, made the announcement at a morning meeting of The Salem Partnership, a business group that has lobbied to rebuild and expand the courts in Salem. Berry said he learned the news in a telephone conversation a few days ago with Eric Kriss, the secretary of administration and finance for Romney.

"He indicated to me that (the preliminary budget) is coming out (Wednesday) and it will have $3 million for the Salem courts," Berry told 30 business, college and elected officials attending a strategic planning session at Salem State College's Enterprise Center.

"That's terrific news," said Partnership Chairman Russ Vickers.
"That's the kind of initial investment we have not been able to get to this point," said Joseph Correnti, the Partnership president.

Berry's announcement keeps the momentum going on a project seen as crucial to Salem's economic future. The courts are a major employer and the reason hundreds of lawyers have offices in the city.

But the city's court buildings are old and in bad shape, and funding, even start-up money for a study, has been hard to find. Former Gov. Paul Cellucci came to the city in 1998 to announce, with much fanfare, a $730 million court bond bill, but little of the money tricked down to Salem.

This seed money for planning comes five months after Romney approved a $220 million bond bill for construction of courthouses in four cities, including Salem. However, that good news was tempered when the governor noted that the state had exceeded its current bonding limit and that construction funding may not be available for years.

The Salem project picked up steam last year when a legislative committee studying courthouse construction came to Salem at the invitation of retiring state Rep. J. Michael Ruane, who led the lobbying effort. In recognition of Ruane's role, the proposed courthouse will be named the J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center.

Ruane, in one of his last acts after 30 years as the city's state representative, helped get the Salem project in the bond bill Romney signed in August.

Although plans are still early and tentative, the state and city have agreed to build a new court complex on Federal Street and to renovate other court buildings in the city.

The governor's office declined to comment yesterday on the $3 million earmarked for Salem, saying the budget proposal is still being prepared.

Berry, the North Shore's highest-ranking legislator, called the $3 million commitment "a lot of money in tight times."
"I'm delighted," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, there is light at the end of the tunnel."