THE
GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS
STATE
HOUSE, BOSTON 02133-1054
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
September 01, 2005
Brendan Chisholm
617.722.2030
RODRIGUES AND MENARD ANNOUNCE INCREASED
LOCAL AID LEVELS IN THE FY2006 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT FOR WESTPORT
Boston – State Representative
Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chairman of the Joint Committee on Labor and
Workforce Development, and Senator Joan M. Menard (D-Fall River) today announced
that the Westport town budget will be augmented by additional local aid with the
unanimous passage of the FY2006 Conference Committee Report.
Through the combined and
dedicated efforts of Representative Rodrigues in the House and Senator Menard in
the Senate, Westport will benefit from increases in three vitally important
local aid funding sources—Chapter 70, lottery aid and the PILOT program.
“Increases
to the local aid numbers for Westport in the FY2006 budget are truly significant
and positive developments because they underscore the legislature’s commitment
to restoring local aid funding as the economy rebounds from a downturn,” said
Rodrigues.
"I
was quite pleased with the report produced by the Conference Committee,
particularly the local aid appropriations," remarked Senator Menard
following the budget's approval. "The result of the Conference reflected an
economy on the upswing."
The Chapter 70 program is the
foremost source of state funding to public schools in Massachusetts, and is
intended to ensure that all municipalities and regional school districts have
the financial support to fund the foundation budget. Westport will receive at
least $50 more in aid per pupil in FY2006 than they did in this fiscal year,
adding $89,150 to the school budget and bringing the FY2006 Chapter 70 funding
total to $4,035,010.
Lottery aid, a second source of
local aid funding, provides general financial support to cities and towns so
that they can maintain—or enhance—core government services without placing
too much burden on the property tax. Westport
will procure $141,034 more in the upcoming fiscal year in lottery aid, with the
overall amount being $1,265,913. The
town has the flexibility to direct these monies to municipal areas it deems in
need of supplemental funds.
Westport will also secure
$123,683 from the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program, representing a
$26,560 increase from this fiscal year. The
PILOT program reimburses cities and towns that are sites to state-owned,
tax-exempt lands. The increase in
state reimbursements to Westport ensures that the town will be fairly
compensated for preserving the vast Horseneck Beach State Reservation.
A Conference Committee is
responsible for reconciling the differences between the House and Senate
versions of the budget. The
issuance of the Conference Committee Report signals a consensus between the two
branches on the legislature’s funding allocations for the upcoming fiscal
year. The budget is now before the
Governor for adoption, rejection or amendment.
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