Jones Local Aid Amendment Adopted

The following is an announcement from the office of State Rep. Bradley Jones:

State Representative Bradley H. Jones, Jr. is pleased to announce the adoption of a Local Aid Amendment, which if implemented, stands to distribute up to $65 million in onetime funding to local cities and towns. If approved, and reversions to the General Fund reach past levels, the town of Lynnfield stands to receive approximately $63,604 in onetime funding.

The proposal was offered during the House budget debate last week.  Having passed on a unanimous voice vote, the amendment seeks to distribute unused funding from Fiscal Year 2011 back to local cities and towns. Using the Lottery formula, the Local Aid amendment will allow half of the Commonwealth’s reversions, or $65 million, whichever is less, to be distributed to municipalities.

“I am pleased that the House has afforded local municipalities the opportunity to alleviate the financial burden of the past three fiscal years”, said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. “In a time where Local Aid has been consistently cut, I am glad that the members of the House were able to come to a consensus that puts the needs of municipalities first and foremost.”

Historically reversions to the General Fund have averaged approximately $150-$200 million per fiscal year. Having passed the House, the budget now stands before the Senate for consideration. Once the Senate passes its version of the budget, it will be reconciled with the House version and sent to the Governor for his review.