Letter: Senate Passes Balanced Budget—What Does this Mean for Milton?

from Senator Brian A. Joyce

Dear Neighbor,

The Massachusetts Senate has just passed our budget proposal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014. We closed a $1.2 billion budget gap while increasing support to schools and communities without jeopardizing our future with ballooning debt, one-time fixes and taxes.

The balanced budget eliminates the waitlist for home care services for the elderly ? long a priority of mine, increases access to childcare, boosts support to economic development and employment programs, and continues to increase transparency and accountability in state government for taxpayers.
For Milton, the Senate’s budget increases local aid to $2,782,004. This local aid goes directly to municipalities for infrastructure improvement and repair, public safety and economic development. The budget also boosts funding to Milton schools to $5,869,609.

Additionally, I sponsored several amendments specific for Milton including critical protections for the Fowl Meadow habitat which could help stop the 276-unit housing project proposed off Brush Hill Road in an area that simply can’t support a project that dense. We also boosted funding for the Trailside Museum and increased PILOT funding. Milton has previously received $3,915,813 in PILOT payments as a result of legislation I authored that requires state payments to the town for the loss of potential tax revenue from Blue Hills Reservation land in Milton.

As always, it is an honor to represent you and your family in the Massachusetts Senate.

Sincerely,

Senator Brian A. Joyce

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