Senate Budget Increases Education Funding For Framingham

The Massachusetts Senate last week passed a budget for Fiscal Year 2016, including critical investments in key areas of local aid, education, economic development and services for vulnerable and under-served populations.

The Senate budget builds on the themes and investments of the Senate Ways and Means recommendations to lift all families and invest in our future.

“This final budget builds on the themes and investments of the Senate Ways and Means recommendations to lift all families and invest in our future,” said Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chair Karen Spilka, a Democrat from Ashland, who represents Framingham.

“I am proud of the collaborative process and spirited, thoughtful debate this week to create a budget that reflects shared Senate values and advances individuals, families and communities across the Commonwealth,” said Sen. Spilka.

For Framingham, Chapter 70 education aid will increase by $4,133,403 over Fiscal Year 2015 for a total of $37,729,858 in 2016.

The budget also fully funds the Special Education Circuit Breaker, which reimburses school districts for the costs of educating students with special needs.

Framingham will receive $9,171,536 in 2016 Unrestricted General Government Aid for community investments in education, public safety, roads and bridges and health care, a $318,702 increase over Fiscal Year 2015.

In addition, the budget includes $100,000 for the Resiliency for Life program in Framingham to support academic intervention and dropout prevention and $1 million in additional funding for Framingham schools to bring the school district closer to its target share of education spending.

The budget also includes $12.5 million for local Councils on Aging across the state, allowing for $9 per senior per year for innovative programs serving the elderly in our community.