Published in the August 2, 2019 edition.
BOSTON – The town’s men on Beacon Hill have come through again.
Senator Jason Lewis, Representative Paul Brodeur and Representative Donald Wong said the recently passed state budget includes major investments in Wakefield and its fiscal priorities.
Under this budget, Wakefield will receive a total of $6,720,549 in Chapter 70 education funding this year, an increase of $357,658 over the last year’s budget. Crucially, the budget fully funds the state’s Special Education Circuit Breaker program, meaning that the program will reimburse districts for high special education costs up to the full 75 percent, as stipulated in statute.
Lewis, Brodeur and Wong fought successfully to secure funding for several additional local priorities, including:
• $50,000 for the development of a community garden near Lake Quannapowitt
• $50,000 for the installation of solar energy systems on municipal buildings
• $15,000 for PTSD and mental health training for the Wakefield Police Department
• $40,000 for electric or hybrid vehicles for the town parking attendants
“I’m proud that this year’s budget delivers record levels of funding to Wakefield for local schools and other municipal services,” said Lewis. “I’m particularly pleased that we were also able to secure funding for important local priorities like green energy infrastructure, first responder mental health training and community resources like the community garden.”
“I’m grateful for the bipartisan collaboration among Wakefield’s legislators to work with the community and secure this funding for the town,” said Wong. “Mental health training for our police departments is often overlooked, but is vital for the health and safety of our law enforcement officials, and the electric vehicles for the town’s parking attendants will meaningfully help to reduce the town’s carbon footprint.”
Governor Baker signed the budget into law on July 31.
