Masssachusetts State Spending on Local Projects

hale-hospital
2013-2014 State Budget includes a $1M Increases in funding for Haverhill’s Hale Hospital

Kathleen O'Connor Ives
Kathleen O’Connor Ives

Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives reports to the Valley Patriot that she has voted on the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget today in a 36-3 vote. The budget included numerous items that she advocated for, such as:

$300,000 for Salisbury Beach Replenishment

Salisbury beach is one of the Commonwealth’s most popular beaches and contributes greatly to our state and local economies. Incorporating this funding into the final budget will help maintain the quality of the beach by ensuring much needed repairs can be completed following winter storms that caused heavy damage to the beach.

$150,000 for Methuen Stadium Lighting Grant

The Pelham Street Field in Methuen has struggled with lighting issues, and has created an unsafe environment for families attending sporting events. This money will be used to improve the quality of life for many spectators that use the field as well as increase the usage.

$90,000 for Newburyport’s C-10 Foundation

C-10 is a non-profit 501©(3) organization that evolved from Citizens within the 10 mile radius, a 5,000 member organization founded in 1986 to challenge evacuation plans for the Seabrook Station reactor. C-10 is the only citizens’ radiological monitoring organization in the country that has monitored emissions from a nuclear reactor from the moment it generated energy. Funding this program would assist in independent citizens’ monitoring of airborne radiation levels within the ten mile radius of Seabrook Station reactor. This data is compiled and graphed, with monthly reports submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and MEMA.

$1,000,000 for Directed Patrols

The State Police provide directed patrols to certain communities requiring unusual or specialized needs for service. Additional State Police at Salisbury Beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day provides the area with the ability to address potential public safety concerns-especially during seasonal population increases.

$1M for Hale Hospital in Haverhill

The cost of the sale of Hale Hospital in 2001 continues to place a unique burden on the City of Haverhill. These funds will provide much needed aid in the coming fiscal year, which will allow the city to concentrate its funding on critical services such as public safety and education.

The final budget sends $920.2 million to cities and towns in unrestricted local aid, a $21.2 million increase over the fiscal 2013 budget as well as increases in Chapter 70 aid, special education and state aid to public libraries which residents across the Commonwealth increasingly rely upon for services and resources, such as access to information, job searches, career development, educational tools and recreation.

“The budget allocations passed today by the Senate will make a real difference for the residents of the Merrimack Valley,” said O’Connor Ives who represents Amesbury, Haverhill, Merrimac, Methuen, Newburyport, North Andover and Salisbury. “I’m proud to have advocated for these priorities and I’m proud to be a part of our areas strong delegation to Beacon Hill. I hope the Governor accepts the budget soon so these funds can be put to work quickly,” she added.

Gov. Deval Patrick will have 10 days to consider the proposal and announce any amendments or votes before he signs it.