Tewksbury Would Get More School Aid In Baker Budget Proposal

TEWKSBURY, MA -- Tewksbury Public Schools would get $13.29 million under the state budget proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker last week, up 1.3 percent from $13.12 million in fiscal 2019. That increase is in the Chapter 70 state aid.

Separately, Tewksbury would also receive $2.96 million in unrestricted general government aid, up 2.8 percent from $2.88 million this year. That aid can be used to fund a wide range of city services and programs.

Under Massachusetts law, Chapter 70 aid goes directly to school districts to fund public elementary and secondary education and is set using a uniform set of standards that factor in student need and local capacity to raise revenue.

In announcing his budget proposal last week, Baker made education a centerpiece and noted the $42.7 billion state budget includes a $1 billion increase in education funding. Baker outlined a seven-year plan for state funding for schools that includes tax increases. The budget still needs to be passed by the state legislature.

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Patch file photo via Shutterstock.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).