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

PEABODY, MA — The state budget passed by the legislature Monday includes $8.36 million in unrestricted funding for Peabody, as well as $30.69 million in Chapter 70 funding for the Peabody School District.

The local funding is up 5.4 percent from $7.93 million last year. School funding under the spending plan rose 32.82 percent from the $23.1 million, Peabody 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:

• That not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the Peabody Children's Museum.
• That not less than $90,000 shall be expended for the master plan for Centennial Park in the city of Peabody.
• That not less than $75,000 shall be expended by the city of Peabody for the development of a bikeway and pedestrian master plan.
• That not less than $5,000 shall be expended for the city of Peabody for the restoration of Birch cemetery in West Peabody.
• That not less than $10,000 shall be expended for the installation of digital speed signs on Lowell street in the city of Peabody.

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.