Massachusetts House of Representatives FY18 Budget Includes Local Aid Boosts to 5th Middlesex District

BOSTON- Representative David P. Linsky (D-Natick) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing its budget for the Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) today, which included significant increases to local aid across the Fifth Middlesex District. In addition to local aid, the over $40 billion spending bill targets areas such as education, health and human services, housing and homelessness, and veteran services.

“Despite the real and significant economic challenges facing the Commonwealth, I am proud of the responsible and thoughtful budget we were able to pass,” said Representative Linsky. “My colleagues and I worked together to craft a budget that is both fiscally sound and preserves the state’s most essential services, as well as necessary local aid funding to keep our cities and towns, and public schools, running to the highest of standards.”

In addition to funding important programs and services throughout the Commonwealth, Representative Linsky also secured items for the Fifth Middlesex District:

Chapter 70 Education Funding:

• Millis received $4,761,622, which is a $35,970 increase over FY17.
• Natick received $9,281,825 which is a $163,980 increase over FY17.
• Sherborn received $662,721, which is a $86,983 increase over FY17.
• Dover-Sherborn Regional High School received $2,047,723, a $279,097 increase over FY17.
• Tri-County Regional High School received $5,659,268 a $28,890 increase over FY17.
• Joseph P. Keefe Technical High School received $4,407,641, a $125,259 increase over FY17.

Unrestricted General Government Aid (Local Aid):

• Millis was proposed at $1,045,922, a $39,260 increase over FY17.
• Natick was proposed at $3,806,809, a $142,893 increase over FY17.
• Sherborn was proposed at $216,392, a $8,123 increase over FY17.

Other 5th Middlesex Funding Included:

• Natick Veteran’s Oral History Project received $30,000.
• Millis received $150,000 to mitigate damage to the Clyde Brown Elementary School.
• Sherborn received $50,000 for the preservation of historical documents.

Additionally, the special education circuit breaker, which reimburses local school districts for a portion of their costs for educating severely high-needs special education students, was funded at $281,281,181, a $4,650,073 increase over FY17.

The FY18 budget proposal now goes to the Massachusetts State Senate, where debate begins in May.

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For More Information: Abigail Silverman (617) 722-2575