Massachusetts Legislature Passes Fiscal Year 2015 Budget

BOSTON – State Representative David Linsky (D-Natick) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing the Fiscal Year 2015 budget which focused on economic growth and increased government accountability and oversight.

The final $36.5 billion Fiscal Year 2015 budget includes important spending and policy initiatives including increased funding for Mental Health and Human Services, substance abuse, the Department of Children and Families, Higher Education, Housing, local aid, early education and MassHealth.

“I am pleased with this balanced and fair budget that provides the entire Commonwealth, especially Natick, Sherborn and Millis, with imperative local aid and public school funding without raising taxes” stated Rep. Linsky, “We received the necessary funding to keep our cities and towns running to the highest of standards.”

Local projects for the Fifth Middlesex District include:

• $30,000 for Veterans’ Oral History Project at the Morse Institute Library in Natick
• $50,000 for athletic fields in the town of Millis
• $100,000 for the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority
• $100,000 for the Natick National Guard Readiness Center

Representative Linsky also secured increased funding to all public schools and local aid for the Fifth Middlesex District.

Chapter 70 (Education Aid) funding for the Fifth Middlesex included a

• $368,488 increase for the Natick district bringing its total to $8,681,240
• $19,965 increase for the Sherborn district bringing its total to $545,223 
• $200,646 increase for the Dover-Sherborn district bringing its total to $1,629,376
• $32,700 increase for the Millis district bringing its total to $4,625,472
• $24,375 increase for the Tri-Country School bringing its total to $5,553,893
• $131,470 increase for the Keefe Tech School bringing its total to $3,818,291

Unrestricted General Government Aid for the Fifth Middlesex included a

• $91,496 increase in Natick to $3,390,794
• $5,201 increase in Sherborn to $192,744
• $25,138 increase in Millis to $931,622

In addition to local projects, Representative Linsky was also instrumental in securing $8,000,000 for the Human Services Salary Reserve and language relative to municipal streamlining of tax collectors.  

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