Here’s What Somerville Will Get In Latest State Budget

SOMERVILLE, MA — The state budget passed by the legislature Monday includes $29,187,187 in unrestricted funding for Somerville, as well as $20,939,048 in Chapter 70 funding for Somerville Public Schools.

The local funding is up 5.4 percent from $27,691,828 last year. School funding under the spending plan rose 1.4 percent from the $20,638,388 Somerville 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 traffic engineering design and implementation measures to improve safety for all road users at the intersection of Alewife Brook parkway and Broadway in Somerville
• $50,000 for Groundwork Somerville to fund programs for youth jobs in food access
• $75,000 for the Community Action Agency of Somerville for tenant rights education and advocacy
• $75,000 for LGBTQ+ focused after school programing in Somerville
• $50,000 for the improvement of pedestrian safety and the expansion of access to public transportation along Route 38 in Somerville

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.