FY27 State Budget Includes Increased School and Municipal Funding for Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Medway and Uxbridge

State Representative Michael Soter is highlighting increased local aid and funding for community projects after voting in support of Massachusetts’ $63.4 billion Fiscal Year 2027 state budget.

The spending plan, approved by both chambers of the Legislature on July 1 following weeks of negotiations between House and Senate conferees, includes increases in education funding, unrestricted aid for cities and towns, and funding for several local initiatives throughout the 8th Worcester District. Governor Maura Healey now has until July 11 to review and act on the budget.

Representative Soter said the budget represents continued progress in helping municipalities facing rising costs and growing budget pressures.

“While more work needs to be done to make communities whole, this budget continues to move in the right direction by providing additional state funding assistance to cities and towns,” Soter said.

Among the largest investments included in the budget is $7.66 billion in Chapter 70 education funding, an increase of approximately $297 million over Fiscal Year 2026. The budget also provides $1.363 billion in Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), a $40 million increase that will be distributed to municipalities on a per capita basis.

The Fiscal Year 2027 budget also increases minimum per-pupil aid to $160 while fully funding the sixth and final year of the 2019 Student Opportunity Act.

According to Soter, communities in the 8th Worcester District will receive a combined $45.6 million in Chapter 70 education aid and nearly $7.9 million in unrestricted municipal aid.

Local funding allocations include:

• Bellingham: $10,967,237 in Chapter 70 aid and $2,208,493 in unrestricted municipal aid.
• Blackstone: $162,423 in Chapter 70 aid and $1,758,565 in unrestricted municipal aid.
• Millville: $73,662 in Chapter 70 aid and $524,402 in unrestricted municipal aid.
• Blackstone-Millville Regional School District: $12,330,088 in Chapter 70 aid.
• Medway: $11,703,987 in Chapter 70 aid and $1,591,897 in unrestricted municipal aid.
• Uxbridge: $10,361,060 in Chapter 70 aid and $1,811,763 in unrestricted municipal aid.

In addition to statewide aid, Soter secured funding for several local projects through the budget, including:

• $20,000 for parking lot improvements at the Bellingham Senior Center.
• $20,000 for security and safety upgrades at Blackstone-Millville Regional Schools.
• $20,000 for a generator replacement at Millville Elementary School.
• $25,000 for the Medway Food Pantry.
• $25,000 for Medway Community Farm.
• $20,000 to support Uxbridge’s 300th anniversary celebration.

The budget also revives the Foundation Budget Review Commission, which will study how the state’s education funding formula is calculated and recommend changes aimed at making school funding more equitable. The commission will also examine costs associated with rural schools, charter schools, out-of-district special education, and student transportation. It is expected to hold at least four public hearings across Massachusetts before issuing recommendations by Oct. 31, 2028.

Additional statewide education investments included in the budget are $57.1 million for regional school transportation, $35.2 million for homeless student transportation under the McKinney-Vento Act, $654.6 million for the Special Education Circuit Breaker program, $200.4 million for charter school reimbursements, $16 million in rural school aid, $5.3 million for school food services, and $4.4 million for school breakfast programs.

Soter also noted that the budget does not include any new taxes or fee increases. It calls for a $51 million deposit into the state’s Stabilization Fund, commonly known as the Rainy Day Fund, bringing its projected balance to approximately $8.2 billion.

Until the governor takes action on the spending plan, state government will continue operating under a $7.7 billion interim budget approved on June 29.