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News:
Photos Inspire Book about Police Department's History
West Bridgewater Stops to Remember
Dear West Bridgewater Resident,
Thank you for the privilege of representing West Bridgewater in the Massachusetts Senate. Allow me to provide an overview of state budget deliberations in preparation for your Fiscal Year 2009 municipal budget.
The Senate just released its Fiscal Year 2009 budget. This plan increases local aid by 4.43 percent over last year’s budget, and includes an increase of $223 million to Chapter 70 education aid. Considering the budget projects 3.8 percent baseline growth in the state’s tax revenue, this increase clearly demonstrates our commitment to cities, towns and schools.
Additional highlights in the Senate’s budget include:
- A $5 million increase for universal pre-kindergarten grants
- $21.3 million in funding for community policing grants
- $27.4 million in workforce training grants
- Over $1 million in additional funding for home care programming, which assists elders with personal and supportive services allowing them to remain in the community
- $138.4 million or 8.1 percent increase for housing programs
Prior to the budget debate, Representative Canavan and I voted to pass a Joint Local Aid Resolution containing good news for West Bridgewater.
- An 11 percent increase in Chapter 70 state aid to West Bridgewater Schools. ($2,226,304 compared to $1,930,660 in FY 08)
- Overall local aid to West Bridgewater will increase nine percent. ($4,138,925 compared to $3,790,789 in FY08)
We continue our focus at the State House on strengthening the Massachusetts economy. These economic development initiatives are aimed at creating good jobs, fortifying our transportation infrastructure, increasing our affordable housing supply and ensuring quality, affordable health insurance for every resident.
The Senate approved a life sciences bill which provides $500 million in capital funding for life sciences construction and improvement projects and supports $250 million in tax incentives for life sciences companies that commit to job creation. We’ve already seen the positive results in my district as Organogenesis announced that it will add several hundred jobs (with an average salary of $77,000) and build its world headquarters in Canton.
The $1.275 billion, five-year capital plan which I drafted along with Rep. Kevin Honan of Boston for the production and preservation of affordable housing for low-income, disabled and elderly residents in the Commonwealth, was signed into law by Governor Patrick on May 29, 2008.
Last month, the Senate approved legislation authorizing $150 million in local transportation aid and $2.4 billion in federal funds for road-and-bridge projects while also installing strict cost-containment reforms to help close the $15-billion to $19-billion transportation funding gap.
Maintaining and improving our transportation infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges we face in Massachusetts. By containing costs and insisting on accountability we generate greater confidence in the safety and durability of our roads, bridges and public transportation system.
The Senate also recently passed the next phase of the Commonwealth’s two-year-old health care reform with a package of new initiatives aimed at bringing down escalating health care costs and creating greater access to primary care.
This comprehensive plan seeks to build on the success we have had in Massachusetts ensuring access to quality, affordable health care for everyone. Spiraling costs threaten to derail our progress and this bill provides the tools needed to help contain them.
Together we face a tough economic outlook at the local, state and national level. I am very encouraged however by the commitment to economic development shown by my colleagues at the State House and the men and women serving their communities in town government. This is a partnership which will help Massachusetts weather the difficult challenges ahead.
I am happy to hear your thoughts and suggestions at my office (617-722-1643), home (617-696-0200) or by e-mail (BJoyce@senate.state.ma.us). Thank you for the continued opportunity to work on your behalf.
Sincerely,
BRIAN A. JOYCE
State Senator
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