Here's What Andover Will Get In The Latest State Budget

ANDOVER, MA — The state budget passed by the legislature Monday includes $2.1 million in unrestricted funding for Andover as well as $12.2 million in Chapter 70 funding for Andover Public Schools.

The local funding is up 5.4 percent from $2 million last year. School funding under the spending plan rose 2.8 percent from $11.83 million Andover received in the fiscal year ended June 30.

Overall, local funding in the $52.7 billion package rose 5.4 percent to $2.07 billion from $1.96 billion last year. Chapter 70 school funding increased $495 million, or 9 percent, to nearly $600 million. The budget also includes $110 million to continue free, universal school meals for all school children in Massachusetts.

The budget also includes funding for several local projects:

• $10,000 for the town of Andover for the restoration of the wheels on a World War I cannon.
• $30,000 for the town of Andover to purchase and install memorial placards for Andover residents who were killed in action during the Vietnam War.
• $50,000 for the Andover Baptist Church for structural repairs and mold abatement as a result of damage incurred due to flooding during the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing shutdown.
• $50,000 for Groundwork Lawrence, Inc. for the purpose of developing a regional food security strategic action plan that will strengthen the organization's multi- sector approach to the challenge of food insecurity, specifically in the cities of Lawrence, Methuen and Haverhill and the towns of Andover and North Andover.
• $35,000 for the town of Andover for the design, construction and other costs of updating the Andover Old Town Hall area and vicinity into a market space for small businesses or a similar community space.

The budget was hammered out in a conference committee and unanimously passed both chambers. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has 10 days to sign the budget.