by Senator Karen Spilka
8/8/2016

Dear Holliston Town Officials and Residents,

I am pleased to report that last week, the legislature overrode many of Governor Baker’s vetoes to restore funding for Holliston priorities in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget.

For Holliston, Chapter 70 education aid will increase by $143,770 over FY 2016 for a total of $7,363,120 in FY 2017. The budget also fully funds the Special Education Circuit Breaker, which reimburses school districts for the costs of educating students with special needs. Holliston will receive $1,488,960 in Unrestricted General Government Aid in FY 2017 for community investments in education, public safety, roads and bridges and health care, a $61,386 increase over FY 2016.

In addition to Chapter 70 funding, this budget includes $300,000 for the Elementary Rest Stop Program in Holliston Public Schools and $50,000 for downtown safety improvements in Holliston. I urge you to reach out to the Administration and request this funding be released to the Town.

The budget also includes $14.1M for local Councils on Aging across the state, allowing for $10 per senior per year for innovative programs serving the elderly in our community and $14M for arts, humanities and sciences programs through the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

As always, if you have any questions or would like additional information, please call my District Director Puja Mehta at (617) 722-1640 or puja.mehta@masenate.gov. I look forward to continuing to work with you to make Holliston stronger.

Best,

Karen