State Senator Keenan Highlights Braintree Impact In State Budget

From Sen. John Keenan: Last week the State Senate voted unanimously to pass a $41.49 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2019, a budget that proponents say invests in key areas related to education, local aid, health and human services, housing and tools for low income families, while limiting the use of one-time revenue sources and directing $88.5M to the state’s Stabilization Fund. State Senator John Keenan (D – Quincy), who represents parts of Braintree, says the budget included targeted investments to create opportunities and ensure access to the tools that individuals, children and families need to succeed in the economy and in their communities.

“By focusing on local aid increases, investments in public education, family services and health care, the budget passed by the Senate reflects its commitment both to both local municipalities and to all the citizens of the Commonwealth,” said Keenan. Overall, the budget includes a 3.9% increase in local aid, moving the Town of Braintree up to a total of $5,916,623 for fiscal year to help fund schools, public safety, and other essential local services. The Thayer Library and the Council on Aging will also see funding increases. The budget invests significantly in education for people of all ages and backgrounds and focuses in particular on elementary and secondary education, including $4.91B for the Chapter 70 education formula, its highest level ever. This funding allows for a minimum aid increase of $30 per pupil for every school district across the state and 100% effort reduction to bring all school districts to their target local contribution. The budget also continues to phase in the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) recommendations to more adequately fund school districts and ensure high quality education for all students.

Locally, Braintree will receive an increase in Chapter 70 education funding, reaching a total of $17,817,105 for fiscal year 2019, as well as additional funding for Special Education programs. The Senate budget also increases funds available to cities and towns from the Community Preservation Trust, which provides partial-match grants to municipalities for certain conservation, recreation, or housing focused projects. The additional funding will come from increased recording fees at Registry of Deeds across the Commonwealth. Braintree has been a participating municipality since 2002. Senator Keenan filed several local amendments to the budget which were approved. He was able to secure additional funding for a community project in Braintree that local leadership had highlighted as a priority, with an amendment allocating $50,000 in support of Mayor Sullivan’s plan to construct a dog park for Braintree residents. He also supported an amendment by Senator Walter Timilty, who also represents parts of Braintree, for additional funding to Braintree’s Community Partnership on Substance Abuse. Keenan also filed several other amendments. He was successful in securing additional funding for the Department of Developmental Services. “A challenge to those with developmental disabilities is securing transportation to get to work or to day programs,” said Keenan, “and this funding will ensure access for them.”

As a result of another of Keenan’s amendment, Chapter 766 schools offering education to students with special needs will be able to offset increasing costs with tuition increases. “Our local public schools cannot always meet the demands of students with special needs, so many go to Chapter 766 schools,” Keenan stated. I am pleased that my colleagues joined with me to make sure that these schools have the resources necessary to provide the quality education their students deserve.”

Keenan also filed an amendment, that was adopted, to provide funding for Manet Community Health’s integrated behavioral health program, a critical piece of the region’s response to the opioid epidemic. He also successfully pushed for an expansion of the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project, which will further integrate behavioral health into primary care settings by providing specialized consultation in perinatal health and substance use to primary care practitioners. Keenan pointed out that funding to the Department of Mental Health for mental health and substance use programs was increased by nearly $100 million.

Other highlights of the Senate budget include:

 $518.9M for the University of Massachusetts, $282.7M for community colleges and $259M for state universities
 $100M to reimburse school districts for costs incurred when students leave to attend charter schools
 $8.7M for Childcare Resource and Referral Centers to boost salaries and decrease caseloads for caseworkers helping parents, childcare providers, employers and community groups navigate the state’s early education landscape
 $4M for Youth-At-Risk Matching grants, including support for YWCAs, YMCAs and Boys & Girls Clubs
 $142.9M for a range of substance abuse treatment, intervention and recovery support services, including funding to open five new recovery centers
 $92.5M for children’s mental health services, including $3.9M for the Massachusetts Child Psychiatric Access Program
 $33.4M for adult basic education services to improve access to skills and tools necessary to join the workforce
 $10.3M for summer jobs and work-readiness training for at-risk youth.
 $156M for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters
 $97.5M for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
 $18.5M for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), including $3M to expand eligibility to include persons with disabilities, seniors, unaccompanied youth and individuals

 $6.5M for nearly 160 new rental subsidies for individuals with mental health challenges The Senate also adopted an amendment to protect the civil rights of immigrants and prevent state resources from being used to enforce federal immigration law or to establish a registry based on a person’s protected status. A Conference Committee will now work out the differences between the Senate budget and the version passed by the House of Representatives in April. Fiscal Year 2019 begins on July 1, 2018.

If you have any questions on the Senate budget, please contact Senator John Keenan’s office at 617-722-1494 or by email at John.Keenan@masenate.gov.

Image Via Shuttershock