Boston – Representative George N. Peterson, Jr. (R-Grafton) and Representative Matthew A. Beaton (R-Shrewsbury) are pleased to announce that the passage of the Fiscal Year 2011 (FY 11) Final Deficiency Supplemental Budget will allow for the certification of $65 million in reversion money to be used as a one-time payment to cities and towns. Westborough will receive an additional $70,870 in one-time funding to help maintain vital services and recover from the recent fiscal crisis.
“I am pleased to announce that these funds are coming to our community,” stated Representative Peterson. “It is always a priority of mine to increase local aid to our cities and towns, and this funding will now bring our community back to where we were in the previous fiscal year.”
During the House budget debate in April, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and the Republican Caucus were successful in offering and having adopted an amendment to allow unspent funds (reversions) from FY11 to be sent back to cities and towns. This marks the first time in over four years that a Republican-offered amendment has been included in the final version of the state budget.
“It's great knowing that our efforts have lead to this reversion money going back to cities and towns all across the Commonwealth which will level fund local aid back to the prior fiscal year. The difference being sent back to Westborough will go a long way towards keeping essential services operating and enhancing the high quality of life that our community is so fortunate to have.”
“After a few grueling months of hard work, negotiations, and persistence, I am pleased to report that this necessary support for cities and towns has come to fruition,” said Representative Jones. “I am confident that cities and towns across the Commonwealth will put this one-time funding to good use.”
The Office of the State Comptroller will be closing the Commonwealth's finance books by October 31st, at which point the funds will be formally recognized and distributed to local cities and towns by the Division of Local Services.
