School Spending Up, Municipal Aid Flat in Governor's Budget

02:58PM / Friday, January 20, 2012Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — Towns and cities can expect some $5.2 billion in local aid in the next budget season, including a $145 million increase in education funding.

The administration's fiscal 2013 budget will include a total of $4.1 billion for K-12 education, the most spent on education in the state's history. Local aid represents approximately 16 percent of the annual state budget, which will be filed by Gov. Deval Patrick next week.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray anounced the figures Friday morning during his keynote speech to the Massachusetts Municipal Association's 33rd annual meeting.

"Massachusetts is leading the nation out of the global economic recession thanks to our targeted investments and strong partnerships with cities and towns," he said. "Governor Patrick and I are proud to support our municipal partners with these investments in local aid and education, which continue to provide municipalities with tools needed to improve the delivery and efficiency of local services and help cities and towns thrive into the future."

The increase in Chapter 70 aid will fund school districts at foundation levels; school districts will be at least level-funded and some may see an increase.

Murray said more than $60 million has been saved because of municipal health reform passed last year. More than 50 communities have been able to initiate savings through traditional bargaining, using the reform's new decision-making process, adopting local options or scheduling votes. Half of the savings was realized by nine communities.

Unrestricted General Government Aid will be funded at $833.9 million and consistent with the fiscal 2012 budget. An additional payment of $65 million will be made should sufficient surplus funds be available, which would bring the line item to fiscal 2011 levels.

Other funding in the proposed budget includes

Reimbursement for homeless shelters for veterans from 75 percent to 100
$7 million for Community Innovation Challenge grants. The program, launched in November 2011, provides funding for municipalities to improve performance in management, technology and energy, and to develop regional collaboration.
Chapter 90 Local Road Program: $200 million
Special Education Circuit Breaker: $213 million
State Owned Land PILOT: $26.3 million
Regional School Transportation: $43.5 million
Charter School Reimbursement: $71.5 million
School Food Services Program: $5.4 million
Municipal Library Aid: $6.8 million
Regional Library Local Aid: $9.1 million

Tags: fiscal 2013, state budget,

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At least one level of government is getting its priorities straight.
from: Just World	on: 01-21-2012 02:01PM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (1)

Only 71.5 million for charter schools ??? Should be more.
from:	on: 01-21-2012 06:04PM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (5)

It would be nice to see more money for charter schools . Kids seem to do much better at charter schools.
from:	on: 01-23-2012 09:01AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (4)

Charter Schools only work for some students, not for all. They also do not require teachers to have a state certification that public schools teachers have to have. And Charter schools siphon chapter 70 for each student taken from public schools, which reduces chapter 70 monies to public schools. I'm not trying to bash charter schools, but don't so quick to praise them until you know all the specifics. And from experience, students with disciplinary issues that leave a public school, go to a charter school and return to a public school generally have more disciplinary issues then before.
from: Two Cents	on: 01-23-2012 10:57AM I Agree (2) - I Disagree (1)

Charter schools get funded by the local school districts directly. The money in the state budget goes back to districts to reimburse them for the money they lose to charter schools. Charter schools are funded at the same amounts the local districts are, if not better because they have private foundations that raise money for them.
from: K12	on: 01-23-2012 11:15AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I don't object to a different style of teaching but letting a student take a test over and over until they pass it, seems alittle crazy. That's what I have been told goes on at BART.
from: Lila	on: 01-23-2012 05:31PM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (2)

It is time for change . The system of throwing money at teachers every year is not working. It is time to do something that will help the kids. Pay teachers that help the kids and get rid of the ones that just show up.
from:	on: 01-24-2012 08:45AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

If people really want to do something for kids then go to Stand For Children and check it out.
from: Think	on: 01-24-2012 03:45PM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

as for the local charter school...if you lower the bar, it's easier to do well...every student I have encountered that switched from public school to BART does better-true however, every student that switches from BART back to public school does worse-true. Some charter schools are better, this one is not.
from: betterschoolsnotmorecharters	on: 01-24-2012 06:45PM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (2)

Pittsfield Council Says 'Yes' to Soccer at Crane Park

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:35AM / Saturday, June 13, 2026

The pitch will have the logos of the city and the US. and Massachusetts soccer associations.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is gladly accepting a "mini-pitch" from the U.S. Soccer Foundation to bring games back to Crane Park.

Fueling excitement around the World Cup, U.S. Soccer has been working with the Massachusetts Youth Soccer League to make these facilities available to 20 communities — one of which will be at the park at the intersection of Benedict Road and Springside Avenue.

The City Council accepted the gift on Tuesday during its regular meeting.

A mini pitch is a compact, modular field typically used for soccer, and it can also accommodate inline skates. It has a galvanized steel border with built-in goals and a rubber plastic surface that is clicked together; installed on the existing inline hockey court.

Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham said he has gone door to door speaking with nearby residents, and they are "really excited" about the upgrade. He also sees it as a great addition.

"They say that nobody really uses the court a ton now, and they are excited to see kids back on there playing," he said.

Decades ago, the Crane Park facility was a wading pool. It closed in 1980, and before the turn of the century, it was filled in and marked for hockey.

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath explained that the wooden border around the rink is showing its age, has been vandalized and tagged, and the facility is seeing a "real decline" in use.

"This would seem to be an appropriate spot for us to remove the board system that's in place and install the mini pitch system through this grant," he said.

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