Submitted by Senator Mike Barrett and Representative Ken Gordon
Due to the combined efforts of newly-elected State Senator Michael Barrett and State Representative Kenneth Gordon, the state legislature Wednesday night renewed its appropriation to reimburse Bedford for the education of the children of military families residing at Hanscom Air Force Base. The state funded the appropriation at the Fiscal Year 2013 level, and will apply the same formula it has in past years to determine the actual payment to Bedford. Last year Bedford received $394,000 in impact aid in the current fiscal year and $512,000 in FY 2012.
“Protecting the school aid appropriation was one of my top priorities for this year’s budget,” said Gordon. “The reimbursement is vital to Bedford’s school system and I am thrilled it will continue to be funded.”
Barrett was equally satisfied. “We met with Bedford’s selectmen and school committee early on, and the message was clear. Protecting the school funding was the top priority,” said Sen. Barrett. “I’m glad we got it done.”
The job was not easy for Sen. Barrett or Rep. Gordon. When the House budget was released in mid-April, it did not provide for the reimbursement for schools that educate the children of military families at all. Gordon filed an amendment that passed, and addressed funding for Bedford’s needs. The Senate budget, released earlier this month, also required an amendment to be filed by Sen. Barrett before funding for Bedford was addressed. That amendment passed as well. The two budgets will now move to conference committee, but with Bedford’s needs addressed in both versions, the appropriation is expected to pass.
“For two freshmen legislators to successfully restore funding for Bedford from a threatened cut is truly impressive,” said Rep. Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington), the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue.
“The funding is vital to the town,” said Bedford Selectman Margot Fleischman. “We stressed the importance of protecting the appropriation and our delegation fought hard for it. We are grateful for Mike and Ken’s hard work.”
In addition to the return of its Hanscom reimbursement Bedford also saw its general state aid to schools increase under both the House and Senate budget, but in different amounts. The increase will be worked out when members of the House and Senate meet in Conference Committee before the budget is sent to the governor for signing.
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