Published July 31, 2019
LYNNFIELD – The $43.1 billion fiscal year 2020 state budget includes a $50,000 grant to support Lynnfield’s ongoing efforts to combat substance abuse in the community.
House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and state Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) worked together to secure the funding in both the House and Senate versions of the budget, and successfully advocated for its inclusion in the final conference committee report, which was released on July 21 and approved by both legislative branches on July 22.
The grant will help subsidize the town’s Office of Prevention and its work with A Healthy Lynnfield, the town’s substance abuse prevention coalition that formed in 2017.
This is the second year in a row that Jones and Crighton were able to secure a substance abuse grant for Lynnfield. Funding included in last year’s budget allowed the town to establish the Office of Prevention and hire Peg Sallade to oversee the office as its director of prevention in November of 2018.
Lynnfield officials had planned to apply for additional funding this year through the federal Drug-Free Communities grant program, but the application process for the program was recently placed on hold by the federal government, with no set timetable announced for when it will re-open.
“Peg Sallade and the members of A Healthy Lynnfield have been doing a tremendous job working to address the opioid crisis through prevention efforts and raising awareness in the community,” said Jones. “With the federal funding option on hold, this state grant will help to ensure that the important work being done to protect local youth and young adults from opioid abuse will continue.”
Crighton agreed.
“It’s been great to work with Rep. Jones to secure this funding,” said Crighton. “The opioid crisis is hitting every community regardless of age, race and economic status. The work that Ms. Sallade and A Healthy Lynnfield is doing is truly lifesaving and we will continue to work to get them the resources they need to continue this fight.”
Board of Selectmen Chairman Phil Crawford thanked Jones and Crighton for securing the $50,000 grant in the FY20 state budget.
“I want to thank Brad Jones and Brendan Crighton for continuing to support A Healthy Lynnfield,” said Crawford.
Town Administrator Rob Dolan also thanked Jones and Crighton for obtaining the grant.
“One of the major goals for the Board of Selectmen was to create an Office of Prevention that would provide leadership and professional direction to A Healthy Lynnfield,” said Dolan. “This grant of $50,000 will enhance these efforts to educate citizens of all ages about addiction and will ultimately save lives.”
Gov. Charlie Baker signed the budget on Wednesday.
State budget details
The $43.1 billion FY20 state budget adopted by the House and Senate on July 22 includes what lawmakers said offers the largest annual increase ever in K-12 education spending, a $269 million boost.
According to the Department of Revenue, Lynnfield will receive $5,550,008 in local aid as part of the FY20 state budget. The town will be awarded $4,404,631 in Chapter 70 education aid and $1,104,377 in unrestricted general government aid.
“We got an increase of $22,000 for education in the governor’s budget,” said Dolan.
In FY19, the town received $4,338,661 in Chapter 70 education aid and $1,075,343 in unrestricted state aid.
The state budget also fully funded the state’s Special Education Circuit Breaker program at $345 million, representing a $25.7 million increase over FY19. The Circuit Breaker program provides state support for services provided to special educations who are placed outside of their home school district.
Superintendent Jane Tremblay expressed her support for the increases in Chapter 70 and fully funding the Circuit Breaker program in the state budget.
“I feel like we are moving in the right direction,” said Tremblay. “The state needs to look at the nuances in the Circuit Breaker program in regards to transportation costs, but we are moving in the right direction.”
House budget chief Rep. Aaron Michlewitz said the budget raises spending by $1.6 billion, or 4 percent over FY19, with the education investments coming as lawmakers continue work on an education funding bill.
— The State House News Service contributed to this report.
