Jones Announces Local Aid Amendment Becomes Law

Note: The following is an announcement from the office of Rep. Bradley Jones, Jr.

State Representative Bradley H. Jones, Jr. is pleased to announce that a Local Aid Reversion amendment that he first introduced during House debate for the Fiscal Year 2012 budget, was recently signed into law by Governor Patrick.  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.

If reversions, which are unspent portions of the budget, reach past levels, the town of Lynnfield stands to receive approximately $63,604 in one-time funding.

“I am glad that by signing this proposal into law, the Governor has afforded our cities and towns the opportunity to receive this one-time funding”, said Representative Brad Jones. “I am confident that the town of Lynnfield will put this one-time funding to good use.”

Having passed the House of Representatives on a unanimous voice vote, the initiative will distribute unused funding from Fiscal Year 2011 back to local cities and towns. The Local Aid amendment will allow half of the Commonwealth’s reversions, or $65 million, whichever is less, to be distributed to municipalities no later than October 31, 2011.

Representative Jones went on to say, “By reverting unused funds back to our municipalities, we are affording them the opportunity to alleviate some of the financial burdens that have been placed on them over the past fiscal years.” 

Historically reversions to the General Fund have averaged approximately $150-$200 million per fiscal year.