May 1, 2006

I am pleased to report that the budget passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives last week would dramatically increase State funds for cities and towns. The hike in local aid was matched by an increase in funding for public education, with a considerable boost in Chapter 70 funding for the coming fiscal year. The budget is now on its way to the Senate, where it will be debated before a consensus bill from the two branches is sent to the Governor’s desk this summer.

For Lexington, Arlington, and Woburn, the numbers tell a positive story: Lottery aid is up from 15-20% for each town. Lottery aid in the House budget will exceed pre-recession levels for all three municipalities and help them address some of the fiscal challenges of the coming year. In addition, the state's contribution to rate relief for water and sewer use has doubled, cushioning the impact of rising Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) fees.

School aid will also see a much needed raise, with Chapter 70 education aid rising $173 million dollars across the state in comparison to last year’s level. METCO funding was increased dramatically, for the third year in a row. Lexington and Arlington would be two of 32 communities in the Commonwealth to receive part of the $19.6 million allocated in the House budget, up $2 million from last year. Spending on the state's public higher education institutions is also increased by approximately $66 million over last year.

Even with a budget in excess of $25 billion, we cannot meet all of our needs. But we've made some critical investments in human services, environmental protection, our judicial system, public safety, infrastructure repairs, and public education. The budget process is always demanding, but this is one of the best budgets I've seen in my twelve years on Beacon Hill.