REP. ELDRIDGE ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL AID
State to Distribute $75 Million in Unrestricted Local Aid to Massachusetts Municipalities

BOSTON, MA – Representative James B. Eldridge (D-Acton) today announced that the Legislature passed a supplemental appropriations bill providing $75 million in one-time unrestricted local aid to cities and towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

“This additional local aid funding is unrestricted financial assistance that will go directly to cities and towns, and can be spent as those municipalities see fit,” said Representative Eldridge. “As such, communities can use these funds to enhance local funding on public education, public safety, elder services and public works – services that are vital in every sense of the word.”

Under the supplemental appropriations bill that was passed, the six towns of the 37th Middlesex District will receive $468,528 in one-time assistance that can be committed at the discretion of each of the towns.

“I am grateful to Representative Eldridge, who has been advocating tirelessly on behalf of his constituents in the 37th Middlesex District,” said House Ways and Means Chairman John Rogers (D –Norwood).  “Without the provision of these much needed funds, the 351 cities and towns of Massachusetts would have a much more difficult time ensuring that public services are provided in a manner that is deserving of its residents.”  Added Rogers, “Representative Eldridge has made adequate funding of municipal budgets a top priority of his since arriving in the Legislature, and I am proud to help him deliver this much-needed funding to his district.”

 “One of the most controversial, and ultimately, important statewide measures was the change made to the distribution formula for charter school reimbursement,” noted Eldridge.  “The change eliminates the flat per-pupil expenditure and provides a formula that is more reflective of a student’s actual cost to the district, thereby relieving the overall effect charter schools now have on local budgets.  This is the important first step toward alleviating fixing the flawed funding formula, and we achieved it without penalizing one student in the Commonwealth.”

Other major items accomplished through the eagerly anticipated supplemental budget include: 

• $336 million toward the Commonwealth’s Stabilization Fund
• $11.9 million for substance abuse support programs, which ensures federal funding to Massachusetts in the amount of $9.6 million
• $4 million to maintain Medicaid coverage for 3,000 legal immigrants and elderly
• $20.5 million in workforce training grants.
• $32 million for remaining contractual salary obligations to higher education workers.

Over the past month, as negotiations bounced back and forth between Senate and House, members of the Legislature watched carefully and provided crucial information, not only to fund sufficiently local aid and local projects, but to achieve much-needed statewide reforms and incentives. The appropriations bill now goes to the desk of Governor Mitt Romney for his consideration.