Rep. Bradley, Rep. Cantwell, Sen. Hedlund  announce $380,614 in additional aid for Cohasset, Hingham, Hull and Scituate

October 25, 2011

(State House, Boston) – Rep. Garrett J. Bradley, D-Hingham, and Sen. Robert L. Hedlund, R-Weymouth, today announced that area towns they represent will receive an additional $380,614 in local aid restored through passage of a supplemental budget.  The funds reflect better than expected revenue figures for the first part of Fiscal Year 2012, which began July 1.

The supplemental budget approved by the Legislature includes $31,464 in additional general aid for the town of Cohasset, $96,517 in additional aid for Hingham, $129,605 for Hull and $123,028 for Scituate.

“With this restored funding, local communities will have the same amount of unrestricted general aid as they had in FY 2011,” said Rep. Bradley.  “This restored funding will prove critical to ensuring the delivery of town services that local residents expect from their government, and I hope this trend signals an improving economic future.”

“The watchword is caution when it comes to incoming revenues, however Ways and Means and the members believed that we had an opportunity to assist local communities,” said Rep. Bradley.

“News of this recent increase in state tax revenues and sales is welcome news for Scituate,” said state Rep. James Cantwell, noting that the town should receive its share by December at the latest. “It has been my pleasure to advocate, to the very best of my ability, for the needs of Scituate and our Commonwealth.”

Senator Hedlund said, “I am encouraged by the restoration of the FY 11 unrestricted local aid levels in the passage of the Supplemental Budget approved by the legislature. This aid will provide critical relief to our communities, and is a positive sign for the rebounding of the Commonwealth’s economy. I am optimistic that the upward trend in the state’s revenue figures will continue.”

According to the House Committee on Ways and Means, during deliberations on the FY2012 state budget, $65 million of unrestricted general government aid was held back due to serious concerns over the pace of revenues coming in to the State.  Recently, enough revenue has been certified by state officials to warrant restoring that funding to local towns.