Senate passed a budget for Fiscal Year 2018
Dear Holliston Town Officials,
I am pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Senate Thursday night passed a budget for Fiscal Year 2018, investing in key areas related to local aid, education, health and human services, housing and workforce development. The budget makes targeted investments, while limiting the use of one-time revenue sources and protecting the state’s Stabilization Fund.
For Holliston, Chapter 70 education aid will increase by $78,360 over FY 2017 for a total of $7,441,480 in FY 2018. 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 $1,547,029 in Unrestricted General Government Aid in FY 2018 for community investments in education, public safety, roads and bridges and health care, a $50,709 increase over FY 2017.
In addition to Chapter 70 funding, this budget includes $50,000 for the Holliston School Substance Abuse Prevention Program and $50,000 for the Holliston Drug and Alcohol Awareness Coalition.
The budget also includes $14M for local Councils on Aging across the state, allowing for $10 per senior per year for innovative programs serving the elderly in our community.
This press release highlights some of the other strategic, targeted investments and initiatives in the final Senate budget. 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.