Here’s What Arlington Will Get In Latest State Budget

ARLINGTON, MA — The state budget passed by the legislature Monday includes $8,788,270 in unrestricted funding for Arlington, as well as $15,893,365 in Chapter 70 funding for Arlington Public Schools.

The local funding is up 5.4 percent from $8,338,017 last year. School funding under the spending plan rose 7.8 percent from the $14,741,108 Arlington received in the fiscal year that ended on 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:

• $100,000 for the Arlington Chamber of Commerce tourism initiative
• $50,000 for the Outdoor Water Bottle Filling Station Initiative in Arlington
• $15,000 for the Arlington Community Orchard
• $175,000 for the Arlington Youth Counseling Center
• $100,000 for Methuen Arlington Neighborhood to increase and enhance entrepreneurial opportunities, neighborhood investment, revitalization activities, and the self-sufficiency of low- and moderate-income residents
• $155,000 to the Arlington Housing Authority for fire alarm system upgrades to the Drake Village complex

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.