Massachusetts House of Representatives FY17 Budget Includes Local Aid Boosts to 5th Middlesex District

BOSTON – The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed its budget for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) today which included significant increases to local aid across the Fifth Middlesex District.

“I am pleased with the increases to local aid included in the FY17 budget,” stated Representative David Linsky (D-Natick). “We received the necessary funding to keep our cities and towns, and public schools, running to the highest of standards.”

Chapter 70 Funding:

· Millis received $4,725,652 which is a $68,255 increase over FY16.

· Natick received $9,117,845, which is a $301,108 increase over FY16.

· Sherborn received $575,738 which is a $21,065 increase over FY16.

· Dover-Sherborn Regional High School received $1,768,626, a $109,050 increase over FY16.

· Tri-County Regional High School received $5,630,378, a $52,635 increase over FY16.

· Joseph P. Keefe Technical High School received. $4,282,382, a $191,523 increase over FY16

Unrestricted General Government Aid:

· Millis was proposed at $1,006,662, a $41,502 increase over FY16

· Natick was proposed at $3,663,916, a $151,054 increase over FY16

· Sherborn was proposed at $208,269, a $88,586 increase over FY16

Other 5th Middlesex Funding Included:

· Natick Veteran’s Oral History Project received $30,000.

· Natick received $150,000 to mitigate student overcrowding.

· Natick received $50,000 for park improvements, intended for playgrounds at the Navy Yard Field, Lilja School, and Johnson School.

· Sherborn received $35,000 for improvements to State Highway Route 16.

· Millis received $150,000 to mitigate costs in the public school district.

· Millis Fire Department received $35,000 for the purchase of a self-contained breathing apparatus fill station.

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 proposed at $276,631,108, a $4,999,183 increase over FY16.

The FY17 proposed budget now goes to the Senate, before heading to the Governor’s desk for signing.

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For more information: Abigail Silverman (617) 722-2575