House Passes Supplementary Budget; Funds Charter School Reimbursement

The following is a press release from State Rep. Tom Sannicandro's office, who is one of three state rep's who serve Framingham:

State Representative Tom Sannicandro joined his colleagues in the 
Massachusetts House of Representatives Wednesday to pass a supplemental budget that provides critical funds to various state departments and fully funds the charter school reimbursement program through a $27.6 million allocation.

The $144 million financial package makes important investments to maintain and extend essential services and programs including housing, education, and health and human services.

As part of the House’s continued leadership in reforming the Department of Children & Families, the mid-year budget includes $10.4 million for that department to help lower caseloads. 

“Massachusetts currently enjoys an AA+ bond average, the highest in its history, and our unemployment rate continues to fall,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo.“This spending package reflects and extends the fiscally-prudent and targeted strategies that have helped us achieve that growth.”

“This supplemental budget supports our schools’ bottom line and the programmatic needs of our cities and towns,” said Sannicandro. “I am proud to fulfill our obligation to our communities by ensuring our residents can continue to receive these critical services.”

The supplementary budget also provides:
• $6.2 million for housing and homelessness. This will money will cover existing deficiencies and allow the department to prepare for the creation of new beds;
• More than $500,000 to improve caseload management for veterans’ agents;
• More than $11,300,000 for the Department of Developmental Services;
• Funds to cover new enrollment in the state’s Group Insurance Commission.