Submitted by the Office of State Representative Ken Gordon
Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford) joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass its Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) budget, which invests in programs and services across the Commonwealth. Funded at $42.7 billion, the House budget makes major investments in education, substance-use disorder services, health care, and other areas. The budget also provides for a more than $200 million deposit into the Stabilization Fund – bringing the fund’s balance to more than $2.5 billion to safeguard the future of vital programs and services.
“I am proud that the House has yet again assembled a fiscally responsible budget that increases funding to public schools and local governments, ensuring that our cities and towns have the resources they need to continue to succeed. This budget represents a significant step forward for our residents and particularly our students, who will benefit from important education funding increases,” said Rep. Gordon.
Children of Military Families Funding
The House also appropriated funding pursuant to an amendment filed by Rep. Gordon, which will fund expenses related to the education of children of military families who live on Hansom Air Force Base and attend Bedford Public Schools. Rep. Gordon joined Senator Mike Barrett in 2015 to pass a law that requires the Commonwealth to reimburse the town for the education of the military students, but the law is subject to appropriation.
Chapter 70 Education Funding
In addition to funding important programs and services throughout the Commonwealth, the House FY20 budget included important local aid and Chapter 70 Education funding increases for the Twenty-First Middlesex District.
- Bedford receives $5,595,167, a $762,857 increase over FY19
- Burlington receives $6,851,477, a $333,543 increase over FY19
- Shawsheen Valley Technical High School receives $6,470,511, a $39,150 increase over FY19
Unrestricted General Government Aid (Local Aid):
- Bedford receives $1,218,953, a $32,046 increase over FY19
- Burlington receives $2,780,883, a $73,110 increase over FY19
Lowell to Burlington Shuttle
Another important amendment filed by Rep. Gordon was included in the House FY20 budget. The House allocated $125,000 for a shuttle service that will support the restaurants in Burlington by providing transportation for otherwise unemployed workers from Lowell so that they can get to work, filling more than 400 open positions at local restaurants. The program will be funded largely by public investment in the first year, and then will transition to private support over the next three years. It will operate through the Middlesex 3 Transportation Management Association.
The public portion of funding had been approved by the Administration through authority provided by previous legislation, but at the last minute, the Federal Highway Administration advised that its portion of funding was inaccessible. “The Commonwealth has stepped in to make up for that lost funding,” said Gordon. “We will not allow red tape or political complication stand in the way of people finding jobs, or employers filling openings.
“I am pleased that the House chose to support this important investment in our community. The Lowell to Burlington shuttle service will allow local businesses to fill hundreds of job openings and help keep our economy vibrant. It is an innovative program that will serve as a model for others throughout the Commonwealth on solving workforce issues through regional collaboration,” said Rep. Gordon.
Next Steps
The FY20 budget proposal now goes to the Massachusetts State Senate, where debate begins in May.
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