By Beth David, Editor
State Sen. Mark Montigny has announced a proposed increase in local aid in the senate’s version of the budget.
According to Sen. Montigny, Fairhaven will receive $2,933,153 in unrestricted state aid, which is $104,789 more than the House budget. The town set its own budget based on the House number. The increase is a 4.5% increase from last year.
The proposed budget gives Acushnet $1,957,488, which is $55,734 more than the house budget. The overall amount is also a 4.5% increase from last year.
It was not clear by press time if there were any changes in any other money, which could offset any increase, such as Chapter 70 for education, or Chapter 90 for roads, or an increase in state assessments (what towns pay to the state).
Fairhaven Town Administrator, Keith Hickey, said he would have to dig into the details to see how much the proposed increase actually amounts to.
“I’ll take everything we can get, and I appreciate it,” said Mr. Hickey. “But until we get the full picture, it’s tough to know where we fall.”
The budget will now go to conference for the house and senate to reconcile the two numbers. Then it will go to the governor’s desk to be signed.
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