Budget Includes Funding to Aid Communities, Residents of Plymouth Area

Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) and Representative Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth), Ranking Minority Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, announced today that the fiscal year 2008 budget passed by the Legislature includes several funding initiatives that focus on the needs of the communities and residents of the Plymouth area.

 

“This budget maximizes the limited amount of resources the Commonwealth is anticipating for the 2008 fiscal year by providing targeted funding for programs that are critical to the Commonwealth,” said Senate President Murray. “That includes many of the programs and initiatives that are important to the people and the communities of the Plymouth area.”

"I am proud that we have put together a budget that uses the resources we have available to the Commonwealth to help the many different needs in the Plymouth area. We kept our commitment to local aid while trying to help grow the tourism industry in Plymouth. The funds allocated to the Mayflower 50th Celebration, the Pilgrim Hall Museum, and the Jenny Grist Mill will go a long way toward preserving our history while enriching our future." Representative deMacedo said. "I am also glad we could help some of our veterans in need through the Nathan Hale Foundation, and our residents in need through the Greater Plymouth Food Warehouse. These are all wonderful programs and so worthwhile in our community that I am glad to have helped our area’s needs."

The $26.8 billion budget represents a four percent increase over fiscal year 2007. Even with the mediocre increase in revenue over last fiscal year, the final budget includes many new initiatives to promote economic and workforce development, education, public safety, health care, seniors and veterans.

Specifically for the Plymouth area, the fiscal year 2008 budget includes:

• $500,000 for the operation and maintenance at the UMass Cranberry Experiment Station

• $70,000 for the second phase of bog renovation at the UMass Cranberry Experiment Station

• $100,000 for the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce to promote the 50th anniversary of the Mayflower II as an international event;

• $50,000 for the Greater Plymouth Food Warehouse to compensate for the loss of federal grant funding so they can continue their food assistance programs in 10 South Shore Communities;

• $50,000 to continue education efforts at the Jenny Grist Mill in Plymouth;

• $200,000 for entrepreneurial training through the Southeast Economic Development Corporation;

• $25,000 to advance the renovations to the Pembroke Grange building which is used as a community center;

• $37,300 for additional State Police Patrols on Route 3 during the summer season;

• $100,000 for Pilgrim Hall Museum for development efforts;

• $100,000 for Nathan Hale Foundation to provide transportation to local veteran in need of assistance

• $50,000 for increase patrols at Myles Standish State Park during the summer months.

In addition to the additional $238 million in statewide local aid, the final budget also includes statewide initiatives that will affect the Plymouth area.

Further aiding in public safety for our communities, $21.3 million is invested in Community Policing Grants, and $4 million in new funding for Municipal Police Grants.

To continue the Legislature’s efforts to improve education, along with the $220 million increase in Chapter 70 funding, the fiscal year 2008 budget includes education initiatives such as $7 million for a rate reserve for early education and care providers; a $6.5 million increase in Expanded Learning Time Grants, a $6.8 million increase for Kindergarten Expansion Grants; a $12.3 million increase for the Special Education Circuit Breaker; and a $2.8 million increase for regional transportation.

The budget also includes a Murray initiative that focuses on economic and workforce development. The plan to invest up to $100 million in surplus funding, following a deposit into the stabilization fund to invest in areas the will encourage current industry to expand, new industry to set up shop and to ensure that we have the workforce with the skills needed to step into these jobs.

Murray added, “This funding whether it is on small scale like some of the local initiatives or statewide grants and other programs, my focus continues to be on improving the lives of the residents of my district and throughout Massachusetts. I believe this budget helps us move closer toward reaching our goals for the future of the Plymouth area and the Commonwealth.”

The FY2008 budget passed by the Legislature can be found at http://www.mass.gov/legis/ under current agenda and news.