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Health & Fitness

Celebrating $10 Billion in New Massachusetts Schools

On October 15, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) surpassed the $10 billion mark in payments to Massachusetts cities, towns and school districts since its creation in 2004. The $10 billion has been used for the construction, renovation, and repair of public schools throughout the state. The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) was created in 2004 as an act of the legislature to replace the previous program that had accumulated $10 billion in debt. MSBA receives its funding from the statewide sales tax of 6.25 cent, of which MSBA receives one cent.

This program has reaped enormous benefits for Massachusetts and its public schools. The MSBA reimburses school districts during the construction allowing property taxpayers to avoid the sizeable interest costs that accompany construction loans. This has saved $2.9 billion in local interest costs, benefiting both the students and the taxpayers of Massachusetts. Students profit from the ability to move into newly created or renovated schools in a timely manner and the taxpayers profit from the system and the billions it has saved communities, freeing up local resources for other needs like police and fire departments and local roads.

Among the $10 billion MSBA has given to cities, towns, and regional school districts across the state, over $80 million has been sent to the Fifth Middlesex district; $8.6 million to Millis, $68.5 million to Natick, and $3.1 million to Sherborn and $23.8 million to the Dover-Sherborn regional school district. These funds were used for the construction of Natick’s new Natick High School, Wilson Middle School and for the regional schools of Dover-Sherborn. In 2004, Dover-Sherborn constructed a new middle school and the high school received a major renovation. Most recently MSBA funds were used to construct the new Natick High School, a project that took two years to complete at the cost of $78.5 million and was even constructed $10 million under budget. MSBA also helped to complete major repairs at Sherborn’s Pine Hill Elementary School in 2008.

While MSBA has done outstanding work on new projects they have also absolved any issues left by the previous program. Of the $10 billion debt accumulated by the prior program, $9.3 billion has been retired. In addition, MSBA has completed $5.1 billion in debt repayments and $5.4 billion on previously waitlisted projects.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority has achieved an impressive accomplishment in the progress and change it has brought to the Massachusetts public school system. It is a great testament to our state’s dedication and commitment to our public schools and has furthered our reputation of exceptional public education. I was proud to vote to create this program in 2004, and even prouder to see the wonderful new schools it has created for Massachusetts school children.

Representative David P. Linsky is the State Representative for Natick, Sherborn, and Millis.

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