House Passes Balanced FY16 Budget with Tax Breaks, No Tax Increases

BOSTON – State Representative David Linsky (D-Natick) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing the Fiscal Year 2016 budget which emphasizes economic growth through investments in multiple areas including education funding, increased local aid, reform to the state’s transportation system and an acute focus on improving behavioral health services.

The final $38.14 billion Fiscal Year 2016 budget highlights the House’s ongoing commitment to fiscal prudence and targeted investments, a practice that has resulted in Massachusetts retaining its AA+ bond rating, the highest in the state’s history. The budget includes no new taxes or fees and reduces its reliance on one time revenue sources. It also includes an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, providing tax relief to 400,000+ working families. For the first time since 2007, it does not withdraw any funds from the Commonwealth’s stabilization fund, leaving the balance in excess of $1 billion.

“I am pleased with this balanced and fair budget that provides the entire Commonwealth, especially Natick, Sherborn and Millis, with imperative local aid and public school funding,” stated Representative Linsky. “We received the necessary funding to keep our cities and towns and public schools running to the highest of standards.”

Local projects for the Fifth Middlesex District include:
• $30,000 for Veterans’ Oral History Project at the Morse Institute Library in Natick
• $50,000 for athletic fields in Millis
• $25,000 for improvements to Sherborn Town Hall
• $25,000 for improvements to the Sherborn Transfer Station
• $120,000 for a security fence at the Natick National Guard Readiness Center

Representative Linsky also secured increased funding to all public schools and local aid for the Fifth Middlesex District, the highest school aid figures in district history.

Chapter 70 (Education Aid) funding for the Fifth Middlesex included a
• $135,425 increase for the Natick district bringing its total to $8,816,665
• $9,450 increase for the Sherborn district bringing its total to $554,673
• $30,200 increase for the Dover-Sherborn district bringing its total to $1,659,576
• $31,925 increase for the Millis district bringing its total to $4,657,397
• $23,850 increase for Tri-Country Tech bringing its total to $5,577,743
• $272,568 increase for Keefe Tech bringing its total to $4,090,859

These school aid amounts are the highest totals in history.

Unrestricted General Government Aid for the Fifth Middlesex included a
• $122,069 increase in Natick to $3,512,863
• $6,939 increase in Sherborn to $199,683
• $33,538 increase in Millis to $965,160

In addition to local projects, Representative Linsky was also instrumental in securing $18,589,713 for Kindergarten Expansion Grants, ensuring that communities across the Commonwealth will have the resources to continue to invest in successful full-day kindergarten programs.

The FY16 Budget now goes to the Office of the Governor where Governor Baker will have 10 days to review the annual spending bill before signing it and announcing any amendments or vetoes.