Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – Friday, August 2, 2019 Governor signs Fiscal Year 2020 Budget BOSTON – On July 31, Governor Charlie Baker signed the Its a Marina Dance Party all weekend! Friday, August 2 at 9 PM BILLY PEZZULO Saturday, August 3 at 9 PM DJ LOGIK Sunday, August 4 at 9 PM DJ LOGIK MONDAY'S SHUCK! $1.00 Oysters SUNDAY BRUNCH BUFFET Only $19.95 / 11am-2pm Featuring Al Whitney Jazz Band BOOK YOUR NEXT FUNCTION WITH US * GIFT CARDS AMPLE FREE www.marinaatthewharf.com 543 North Shore Rd. Revere 781-629-3798 PARKING AMAZING WATER VIEWS Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) state budget into law, a $43.321 billion plan that includes the highest-ever level of state funding for Massachusetts public schools. The $5.2 billion for Chapter 70 aid to education ensures sufficient resources to fund the FY20 costs of an anticipated multiyear overhaul of the school finance formula while enabling full implementation of the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC). “A strong economy and prudent fiscal management have allowed our Administration to work with the Legislature to continue building the Commonwealth’s Stabilization Fund and invest in key areas like housing, education and efforts to fight opioid misuse,” said Baker. “When we filed our budget and school finance reform proposals in January we pledged to update the formula that funds our public schools, recognizing the challenge that some school districts face in keeping up with the cost of funding a quality public school education for every child in Massachusetts. The Fiscal Year 2020 budget will allow the Commonwealth to take another step toward providing the necessary resources to continue implementing the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission, and we look forward to working with the Legislature on a bill that modernizes the Chapter 70 school finance formula and provides new tools and resources to ensure that this significant investment leads to better outcomes for all Massachusetts children, especially those in our highest-need communities. This budget also makes law the product of a bipartisan compromise to create a program to control the rising costs of prescription drug prices, saving taxpayers millions.” “Since taking office, our Administration has been focused on building strong partnerships with Massachusetts cities and towns, from funding for public schools and public safety needs to local economic development programs and housing assistance,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “This fiscally responsible budget continues that commitment, while addressing the Commonwealth’s most pressing needs including care for vulnerable children and assistance for our seniors.” The budget builds on the Administration’s previous investments to implement FBRC’s recommendations, and it includes significant new funding for school districts to meet the cost of educating low-income students, English Language Learners (ELL) and students with special needs, as well as to address the rising cost of health care. In addition to $5.2 billion in Chapter 70 aid – an increase of $268 million over Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) – the budget includes $115 million for charter school reimbursements for local school districts, a significant $25 million increase to support an updated formula to reimburse districts for charter school tuition increases, including an increase in the facilities stipend for charter schools. The historic investment in public education is made possible because of continuing responsible management of the Commonwealth’s finances. Since 2015 the Baker-Polito Administration has focused on returning structural balance to the state budget, working with the Legislature to keep spending in line with revenue growth and rebuild the Commonwealth’s reserves while investing in critical areas of the budget, including education, housing, transportation, efforts to fight opioid misuse, the care of vulnerable children and support for cities and towns. The implementation of reforms and efficiencies within the MassHealth program has provided flexibility throughout the rest of the budget, while continuing to protect access to health care. The budget includes a landmark new drug-pricing measure that authorizes the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to directly and more effectively negotiate with drug manufacturers and, if necessary, engage in a public process to identify a proposed value for certain high-cost drugs if negotiations are unsuccessful. This reform is consistent with the Administration’s continuing efforts to manage the growth of MassHealth spending. MassHealth pharmacy spending has nearly doubled since 2012, even while the program has successfully implemented policies to rein in spending growth from historical double-digits to single digits and to ensure MassHealth sustainability. Despite this work, growth in pharmacy spending continued to outpace all other MassHealth spending. “Along with the House and Senate, the Baker-Polito Administration has employed fiscal discipline to restore structural balance to the budget, eliminate the use of non-recurring revenue, restrain growth in MassHealth spending, and build the balance in the Stabilization BUDGET | SEE PAGE 10 ANGELO’S FULL "Over 40 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2019 Regular Unleaded $2.559 Mid Unleaded $2.799 Super $2.859 Diesel Fuel $2.839 KERO $4.759 Diesel $2.559 SERVICE HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS • OPEN 7 DAYS Everett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Owned & operated by the Conti family since 1958 • 57 Years! “Same name, phone number & address for family since 1958 • 61 over half a century. 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