How the State Budget Affects Concord

The state Legislature’s recently passed annual budget includes several items of specific interest to Concord -- including funds to mitigate the costs the town incurs for providing fire, EMT, and other help to two state-operated correctional facilities in town.

State Senator Mike Barrett, D-Lexington, and State Representative, D-Concord, pushed successfully for the provision, which stipulates that the several communities supplying such services to correctional institutions will divide $2.2 million in state appropriations.

The funding was included in both the House and Senate versions of the budget, as well as the compromise version just sent to the Governor.

“This funding makes a difference to the town of Concord which is a good neighbor and provides services to two correctional facilities,” said Atkins. “It’s nice to get at least some of those expenses reimbursed.”

“When an inmate escaped from a state work-release program two years ago, the town’s Police Department used its own resources to help catch him,” Barrett noted. “That effort cost money, and local taxpayers shouldn’t be the ones on the hook.”

The budget also includes funds to test the water quality of three local rivers -- the Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord. All three waterways run through Concord. Barrett sponsored the successful $25,000 amendment. Currently the rivers fail to meet certain quality benchmarks set by state and federal law.

“State government needs to get back into the business of keeping our rivers clean and beautiful,” Barrett said. “In the meantime, excellent non-profits have been doing the work.” Barrett directed praise at OARS, a local organization expected to do the water quality testing. “I’m glad we’re able to provide some support for its efforts.”

In 1999 the federal government designated parts of the Concord, Sudbury, and Assabet rivers as “wild and scenic” for their ecological features and cultural importance. As it happens, they’re the closest “wild and scenic” rivers to a major metropolitan area in the entire U.S.

On a matter of statewide interest, the budget contains new funding for the Secure Jobs Initiative, a program geared towards assisting low-income parents. Barrett filed the successful amendment in the Senate budget. His efforts paid off, as funding was included in the compromise budget sent to the Governor.

The program helps parents in temporary living situations get connected with job training services and find employment. “The state seldom manages to bring together housing and job training for the same people,” Barrett said. “Secure Jobs is that rare coordinated approach.”

Barrett also secured $500,000 in funding for a detention diversion program run by the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps. The aim of the initiative is to prevent young people from re-entering the juvenile justice system. Justice Policy Institute research suggests “the detention experience may increase the odds that youth will recidivate.”

The detention diversion program provides community-based support and supervision. Barrett noted that program workers provide 24/7 case management, including coordination with probation staff, face-to-face communication and curfew checks, and weekly family check-ins.

Barrett pushed successfully for funds to hire a state climatologist to advise government on the impacts of global warming. “Climate change is definitely happening and means rising oceans, extreme temperatures, and wilder storms,” Barrett said. “A climatologist will provide enormous help to state and local officials.”

Other successful efforts backed by Barrett include additional funds for the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the agency that promotes the arts across the state and gives grants to local cultural groups. The Council will receive a $2 million boost from last fiscal year. In addition, Barrett pushed for an increase to legal aid for low-income people. The money helps with assistance on non-criminal problems like evictions and heating shutoffs. The final budget contains an increase of $2 million.

Other major budget items include:

• $4.51B for Chapter 70 education aid, a $111.2M increase over FY 2015.
• $979.8M for Unrestricted General Government Aid for community investments in education, public safety, roads and bridges, and health care, a $34M increase over last fiscal year.
• $90.9M for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program to fund between 900 and 1050 new rental assistance vouchers, an increase of almost $20M over last fiscal year’s budget.

The compromise budget now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature.