Statement from Senator Jason Lewis on Education Funding in House 2, the FY2017 Budget

I am disappointed that Governor Baker’s proposed FY17 budget not only provides the smallest rate of increase in Chapter 70 funding in the past half-decade, but also takes no steps to begin implementing the recommendations of the bipartisan Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC).  In its report released late last year, the FBRC recommended adjusting how the Chapter 70 formula calculates health insurance and special education costs, among other reforms, in order to more accurately reflect the true costs being incurred by school districts across the Commonwealth.  Without these reforms, our communities will continue to struggle to provide all students with access to a quality public education.