Representative Steven S. Howitt pushes for affordability, municipal relief measures in FY27 House budget

Cites ‘missed opportunity’ to provide additional savings to residents, cities and towns

Boston – State Representative Steven S. Howitt (R-Seekonk) recently joined with his Republican colleagues to stand united in advocating for a series of proposed amendments to the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) House budget designed to assist the state’s taxpayers and municipalities as they struggle with rising costs and increasing budget constraints.

Expressing concerns about the unprecedented number of cities and towns that are forced to pursue Proposition 2 ½ overrides to maintain basic services, Representative Howitt said he was happy to see the House budget takes steps to assist communities by funding the Special Education Circuit Breaker at $653.4 million, an increase of $168.5 million. In addition to funding the final year of the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) at $550.5 million, the House budget also increases the minimum per pupil aid recommended by the SOA from an additional $130 per pupil to $160 per pupil by providing $52.2 million in supplemental minimum aid, while also creating a $10 million reserve for school districts experiencing unexpected enrollment reductions in ESOL students.

Representative Howitt also advocated for state funding assistance for local projects in the 4th Bristol District through the amendment process, securing earmarks for tasers for the Norton Police Department, turnout gear for the Rehoboth Fire Department, body cameras for the Seekonk Police Department, and a digital training simulator for the Swansea Police Department. The $63.4 billion House budget contains no tax increases.

Representative Howitt noted that the House proposal funds Chapter 70 education aid at $7.66 billion, which is a $296.5 million increase over the current fiscal year and $54.8 million more than Governor Healey has proposed. However, Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) – which helps fund essential non-education municipal programs and services including police and firefighters – is increased by only $10 million over the current level, for a total of $1.33 billion, compared to the $33 million increase in the Governor’s budget.

Funding was proposed by Towns for FY27 as follows:

Chapter 70 Aid UGGA
• Norton $14,044,622 $2,606,903
• Rehoboth N/A $1,307,477
• Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District $14,411,508 N/A
• Seekonk $8,599,658 $1,543,466
• Swansea $11,637,498 $2,355,803

On April 29, the House passed its budget proposal on a vote of 149-9. The budget will now move to the Senate Ways and Means Committee, with the Senate scheduled to debate its own version of the FY27 budget the week of May 18th.