FY20 Conference Committee Budget Includes Local Aid Boosts

BOSTON- Representative David P. Linsky (D-Natick) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts State Senate in passing the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Conference Committee budget. The FY20 Conference Committee budget included significant increases to local aid across the Fifth Middlesex District.

“I am particularly pleased that I was able to secure funds for Millis to create camp programming for children and adults with special needs, for Sherborn’s exterior safety improvements to the Town Hall, for the International Museum of World War II, which is located in Natick, to continue its important educational programs, to improve the Hunnewell Little League fields in Natick, and to continue the Veteran’s Oral History Project at the Morse Library in Natick,” said Representative Linsky. “It is always my main priority to ensure that the towns of the Fifth Middlesex get important local aid funding.”

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 $4,831,312, which is a $434,380 increase over FY19.
• Natick received $10,120,767, which is a $405,913 increase over FY19.
• Sherborn received $693,583, which is a $13,204 increase over FY19.
• Dover-Sherborn Regional High School received $2,282,394, a $104,970 increase over FY19.
• Tri-County Regional High School received $5,716,838, a $29,430 increase over FY19.
• Joseph P. Keefe Technical High School received $5,327,429, a $516,609 increase over FY19.

Unrestricted General Government Aid (Local Aid):

• Millis received $1,111,757, a $29,228 increase over FY19.
• Natick received $4,046,428, a $106,381 increase over FY19.
• Sherborn received $230,013, a $6,047 increase over FY19.

Other 5th Middlesex Funding Included:

• Natick Veteran’s Oral History Project received $30,000.
• The International Museum of World War II, which is located in Natick, received $50,000.
• Natick received $50,000 for the completion of work on the Hunnewell Fields.
• Natick received $215,000 for public health, veterans, and opioid initiatives in the town.
• Millis received $35,000 to conduct a feasibility study for the design and construction of a new Senior Center.
• Millis received $100,000 to conduct a study of the town’s building and facilities.
• Millis received $100,000 for the repair and reconstruction of the Dover Road/West Street Bridge.
• Millis received $10,000 for camp programming for children and adults with special needs.
• Millis received $15,000 for information technology and communications development, including, but not limited to, website development.
• Sherborn received $50,000 for exterior safety improvements to the Town Hall campus.
• The towns of Sherborn and Holliston received $50,000 for the creation of a sustainability coordinator for the two towns.

Additionally, the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) was funded in the FY20 Conference Committee budget at $24,225,000, a $2,042,418 increase over the FY19 funding. The increased funding closes the remainder of the estimated gap in transportation funding leftover from the FY19 budget.

“As the House Chair of the METCO Caucus, I was incredibly excited to see the House prioritize METCO in the FY20 budget, with a $2m increase that will help with transportation for the METCO program,” said Representative Linsky. “METCO is a model for the rest of the country and a critical asset in our effort to narrow education inequality in Massachusetts, and I will continue to advocate for adequate funding and resources to ensure this vital program remains vibrant in our Commonwealth.”

The FY20 Conference Committee budget passed the House by a vote of 158-0, and the Senate by a vote of 39-1. It is now placed before Governor Baker for his signature.

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