2020 State Budget Includes More Than $22.7 Million For Brookline

BROOKLINE, MA — The state budget includes $22.7 million in aid, and earmarked more than $1.4 million more to go to Brookline's Steps to Success, Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline Center for Community Mental Health, and Security Grants for Non-Profits, according to Brookline State Rep. Tommy Vitolo. Legislators approved the final budget for FY2020 on July 22. Gov. Charlie Baker has until the end of the week to approve or exercise his line-item veto authority over the budget.

In addition to line items such as unrestricted aid and aid in the form of Chapter 70 education funding and Chapter 90 transportation funding, the budget includes earmarks for several Brookline organizations. Each state budget includes general spending by government can and is spent in Brookline,

When it comes to aid, Brookline is looking at $22.7 million, including:

• Chapter 70 $15,006,787 (an increase of $232,110 from last year)
• Unrestricted $6,741,760 (an increase of $177,242)
• Chapter 90 $931,083 (a decrease of $7,173)

That works out to be $402,179 increase over last year's budget.

Vitolo and Sen. Cindy Creem, of Newton, pushed for budget items that would impact Brookline, including $25,000 for Steps to Success, $250,000 for the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health, $125,000 for the Coolidge Corner Theatre renovation and $50,000 for the Independent Film Society of Boston (based in Somerville, but active at the Coolidge Corner Theatre).

"I am pleased this budget contains more funding for education, mental health, prescription drug cost controls and other priorities," said Creem in a statement. "This budget also supports many local organizations like the Brookline Senior Center and the Coolidge Corner theatre, which help maintain the vibrancy of our communities."

Vitolo said the funding would help "expand the cultural epicenter of the community."

“The inclusion of crucial funds for these important Brookline institutions is a major victory,” he said in a statement.

Creem also filed amendments for $20,000 for the Alzheimer’s caregivers respite program at the Brookline Senior Center, $20,000 for the Brookline-based Kids Clothes Club and $500,000 for a new statewide security grant program for religious institutions and non-profits which may be seen as targets of violence, all of which were included in the final budget.

Executive Director at the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health Ian Lang said the funding in this year’s budget will allow for continued expansion of programs to help more Massachusetts residents.

Representative Ed Coppinger, of West Roxbury pushed for $500,000 for safety improvements to the intersection of the VFW Parkway and South Street in Brookline.

The final budget included funding for several statewide programs that impact Brookline and beyond including $856,000 for Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities, and $24.2 million for the METCO program to expand access for students. It also included an amendment filed by Representative Nika Elugardo, of Jamaica Plain, to support public libraries, and by Representative Michael Moran, of Brighton, to ensure a more accurate count in the 2020 Census.

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).