Here’s What Wakefield Will Get In The 2023 State Budget

WAKEFIELD, MA - The state’s $52.7 billion 2023 fiscal year budget will include a boost in local education spending as well as multiple earmarks for the town of Wakefield, among other things, according to budget documents.

Approved by the state legislature, the budget earned the signature of Gov. Charlie Baker on July 28.

The majority of local aid comes as state education funding, largely split between Chapter 70 dollars and charter school reimbursements. Wakefield will see a roughly $1.2 million increase over last year’s allocation, with funding rising from roughly $7.1 million to just over $8.3 million in the 2023 fiscal year.

General government aid totals close to $4.2 million, up from roughly $4 million last year.

The budget also includes earmarks for Wakefield:

• $75,000 for the construction of bathroom facilities on Lake Quannapowitt.
• $85,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham and Wakefield to create an environmental science lab and maker space.

Baker signed the majority of the budget into law. In doing so, he vetoed roughly $475,000 in spending using line item veto authority.

Wakefield Town Administrator Stephen Maio celebrated the funding situation at a Town Council meeting this past Monday, noting a “big bump” in Chapter 70 aid.

“That was nice,” Maio said of the education and general government funding increases. “That was really nice for us.”

“I’m happier than I’ve been in a while when we had the budget this year,” he continued.

As the state budget process winds down, communities may soon see additional funding through a state transportation bond bill.

Legislators approved that bill late last month and sent it to Baker. Baker signed the bill on Thursday, issuing a series of vetoes as he did so. The vetoes cannot be overridden since the legislature ended its formal session on July 31.