March 29, 2024

Representative Howitt secures funding for local initiatives in FY16 House budget

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Boston – Representative Howitt (R-Seekonk) has secured $50,000 in the Fiscal Year 2016 state budget to fund important local initiatives for the town of Seekonk.

The funding, which will be used for public safety, was included in the House version of the budget, which was approved on a unanimous vote of 158-0 on April 29.

The $38.05 billion House budget includes a significant increase in local aid for cities and towns. A total of $4.5 billion has been allocated for Chapter 70 educational aid, which will provide for a statewide minimum increase of $25 per pupil. Unrestricted General Government Aid, which helps to fund many essential municipal programs and services, was increased by $35 million.

Representative Howitt noted that the town of Seekonk will receive $4,979,515 in Chapter 70 aid under the House budget plan, along with $1,134,403 in unrestricted general government aid. The House budget includes a 10 percent increase in regional school transportation, and fully funds the state’s share of special education aid for local school districts at 75 percent.

The House budget also includes many important transportation reforms designed to promote fiscal integrity and service reliability at the MBTA, including language enhancing the Inspector General’s internal special audit unit’s ability to investigate and prevent fraud, waste and abuse in the expenditure of public or private transportation funds. In addition to authorizing a five-year moratorium on the Pacheco Law for all MBTA contracts to make it easier to pursue potential cost-savings, the budget also expands the MassDOT board from 7 to 11 members and specifies that these members will serve co-terminously with the Governor.

Representative Howitt noted that the House budget is fiscally responsible and balanced. It contains no new taxes, and for the first time in eight years does not draw money from the state Stabilization Fund, which currently has a balance of over $1 billion.

The budget now moves to the Senate, which is expected to release and debate its own version prior to Memorial Day.

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