Area Lawmakers Highlight Local Aid Amendment

Note: The following is an announcement from the office of State Rep. Donald Wong:

State Representative Donald H. Wong, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and the House Republican Caucus are pleased to announce the inclusion of a Republican led Local Aid Amendment which, if implemented, stands to distribute up to $65 million in one-time funding to local cities and towns, into the final Fiscal Year 2012 budget.

Communities in Massachusetts will see local aid restored to last year’s levels through funds from reversions, if the Governor does not veto the section from the budget.

Having passed on a unanimous voice vote during the House budget debate in April, the amendment was later approved by a six-member, bi-partisan Conference Committee composed of House and Senate legislators. This marks the first time in over four years that a Republican-offered amendment has been included in the final version of the state budget.

“The Republican Caucus has worked hard on this amendment which will restore local aid to previous levels,” Representative Wong said. “I encourage my constituents and all residents of the Commonwealth to contact the Governor’s Office and urge him to keep this amendment in the final version of the FY12 budget.”

The Local Aid amendment stands to distribute unused funding from Fiscal Year 2011 back to cities and towns. Using the Lottery formula, the Local Aid amendment will allow half of the Commonwealth’s reversions, up to $65 million, to be distributed to municipalities by October 31, 2011. If this amendment remains in the final budget, the Town of Lynnfield will receive $63,604 in October from unspent FY11 monies.

“At a time where Local Aid has been consistently cut, I strongly urge the Governor to sign this amendment into law, thus putting the needs of municipalities first and foremost.” said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. “I am pleased that the members of the bi-partisan Conference Committee have afforded our municipalities the opportunity to alleviate the financial burden of the past three fiscal years.”

Historically, reversions to the General Fund have averaged approximately $150-$200 million per fiscal year. The final version of the budget is currently before the Governor for his review.