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Community Corner

Hamilton and Wenham Local Aid See Slight Climb, Towns of Hamilton and Wenham to Receive Increased Funding for FY' 14

BOSTON – State Representative Bradford R. Hill (R-Ipswich) is pleased to announce that Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District will receive an additional $44,725 in Chapter 70 funding and an additional $47,840 in Regional School transportation funding for Fiscal year 2014.

 

“I am happy that additional funding is being sent to our school district, especially for the purpose of transportation, a necessity for our large school district,” stated Representative Hill.

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In addition to Chapter 70 funding, local aid to the towns of Hamilton and Wenham saw slight increases. Hamilton received $581,705, an increase of $13,433 and Wenham received $370,872, an increase of $8,564.

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The Governor thought it necessary to veto a total of $177 million of unrestricted local aid, but Representative Hill explained that “the Legislature unanimously overrode his veto, ensuring that the full amount be distributed back to the cities and towns,” Stated Representative Hill.

 

As for Chapter 90 funding, the Governor chose to bond only $200 million instead of the $300 million that the Legislature had approved. “Through extensive lobbying by members of the Legislature as well as local officials, the Governor was persuaded to allocate an additional $50 million bringing the total from $150 million to $200 million,” Stated Representative Hill. This level funded the Chapter 90 to its fiscal year ’13 level.

 

“I am very disappointed that the Governor did not allocate the full $300 million for these needed dollars,” stated Hill. While the Governor claims we cannot afford it, the state just took in an additional $600 million dollars above benchmark for fiscal year ’13. All finical indications show that those numbers will rise by an additional $800 million for the new fiscal year. Clearly we can afford these dollars and should be better partners with our cities and towns.”

 

In Fiscal year ’14 Hamilton will be receiving $254,947 in Chapter 90 funding and Wenham will be receiving $152,178.

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