Senator Frederick E. Berry (D-Peabody) announced today the Senate Ways and Means budget recommendation for local education aid. Senator Berry serves as Vice-chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Despite shrinking revenues due to the recent tax cut, the Senate preserved its commitment to funding education by maintaining a level of funding established in the Education Reform Act.

"In order to promote education standards in Massachusetts, we need to provide our local schools with the sufficient resources necessary to achieve those high standards," said Senator Berry. "As in our past commitment to public education, the Senate has, once again, made education funding a top budget priority by putting our money where our mouths are. We believe that if Massachusetts continues to invest in quality education now, it will reap the benefits in its communities and economy for years to come."

The Senate education proposal allocates:

• $7,634,024 to Beverly next year, a $556,722 increase above the current year's level.
• $4,276,265 to Danvers next year, a $557,774 increase above the current year's level.
• $15,145,416 to Peabody next year, an $853,954 increase above the current year's level.
• $12,328,928 to Salem next year, a $601,738 increase above the current year's level. Included in the total Senate education proposal for Salem is $250,331 to fund a Senate initiative to reduce class sizes in grades K-3.

The Senate Ways and Means budget proposal also included authorization for state reimbursement of school building assistance in three Salem Elementary Schools. The funds will be available starting in 2003. The Senate has authorized:

• $13.6 million for a new Federal Elementary School;
• $14.3 million to replace the Charlton Elementary School;
• $15.3 million for the Witchcraft Elementary School.

Other statewide Senate budget education initiatives include a $2.9 million increase above the current year for after school program expansion and a $5.6 million increase to reduce local special education costs.

The Senate budget was released today by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and will be debated by the Senate next week. After the Senate passes its version of the budget, the House and Senate budgets are reconciled to order to present a legislative budget proposal to the Governor.