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

NORTH ANDOVER, MA —The state budget passed by the legislature Monday includes $2.4 million in unrestricted funding for North Andover as well as $10.7 million in Chapter 70 funding for North Andover Public Schools.

The local funding is up 5.4 percent from $2.3 million last year. School funding under the spending plan rose 15.1 percent from $9.3 million North 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:

• $65,000 for the completion of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the town of North Andover.
• $35,000 for green infrastructure projects and the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charging stations in the town of North Andover.
• $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.
• $25,000 for the restoration of the historic farmhouse at the Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens in the town of North Andover.
• $15,000 for the addition of solar charging benches to expand access to outdoor workspaces in the town of North Andover.
• $15,000 for the construction of a remote locker access system to increase library access in the town of North Andover.

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.