Arlington Officials: 2020 Budget Has 'Record' Local Aid

ARLINGTON, MA — Massachusetts lawmakers this week approved a $43.1 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2020, which includes "record" local aid, according to State Sen. Cindy Friedman. Arlington received more than $8 million to support education, health care, public safety and roads and bridges.

The funding includes:

• $175,000 to support direct mental health counseling and case management for Arlington youth and their families provided by the Arlington Youth Counseling Center (AYCC)

• $100,000 for the Lussiano Playground adjacent to the Thompson Elementary School
• $85,000 for Food Link MA, an organization that helps to fight food insecurity in Arlington and surrounding communities by delivering nutritious food to over 30 social services that serve low-income individuals in need

• $56,000 for the Jason Russell House and Smith Museum
• $45,000 to provide late afternoon and evening transportation for Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) students attending public schools in Arlington

"The budget reflects the legislature’s strong commitment to increasing access to quality, affordable health care, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to receive a quality education, and expanding access to behavioral health services," Sen. Cindy Friedman, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, said in a statement. "Moreover, as our state continues to grapple with the opioid crisis, I’m especially proud that this budget makes strong investments in mental health treatment and harm reduction initiatives to ensure more resources for families and their loved ones."

Friedman, State Rep. Sean Garballey (D-Arlington), and State Rep. David Rogers (D-Cambridge) make up the Arlington delegation.