WESTFIELD–Gov. Charlie Baker signed the state budget this week and according to Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan, the funds for the city were as expected.
Sullivan said that the budget, along with chapter 90 funding, was what city officials had anticipated. Now, he said, the city will look to manage the budget while focusing on road infrastructure and attempting to keep tax increases down for residents.
Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan (WNG file photo)
“All our numbers we used to build our budget seem to be exactly what we anticipated,” Sullivan said.
“The budget was built on need and I’m confident it’s what people looked for,” he added.
According to Sullivan, Westfield will receive an estimated $38.7 million from the state budget, “adjusted from assessment.” Of that total, $34.32 million is in chapter 70 funding. According to the Massachusetts Department of Education’s website, “[t]he Chapter 70 program is the major program of state aid to public elementary and secondary schools.”
In addition, Sullivan said that the city is expected to received $1.224 million in chapter 90 funding, which is money used for projects like road infrastructure. This money is not part of the $38.7 million estimated budget.
Sullivan said that the chapter 90 funding will go toward the ongoing city efforts to improve infrastructure, and will include projects on Granville Road and portions of North Road and Montgomery Road, among others.
Also in the budget was $50,000 that was allotted for Westfield’s 350th anniversary celebration, which Sullivan said was the only supplemental funding that passed. Sullivan said that he credits Sen. Don Humason and Rep. John Velis for this.
