Governor's Plan Boosts Swampscott's Chapter 70 Funding to Foundation Level

A year ago Selectman Barry Greenfied was ready for civil disobedience to draw attention to Swampscott being shortchanged in Chapter 70 education funding.

On Wednesday night Town Administrator Tom Younger told selectmen the governor's just released local aid proposal would bring the town to the long promised 17.5 percent of foundation funding — the minimum amount needed to educate students in a town.

Under Gov. Deval Patrick's Fiscal Year 2014 budget Swampscott would receive $3.47 million in Chapter 70 funding. That's up $700,000 from the $2.77 million Swampscott was allotted in Fiscal Year 2013.

Chapter 70 is the total state funding for K-12 public schools in Massachusetts.

The governor's plan would fund all towns and cities in the state to at least the 17.5 percent threshold.

The only caveat is the Legislature must pass the governor's plan, which includes tax increases, the town administrator said.

All bets are off if the Legislature says no to the governor's proposal.

The governor's plan would put Swampscott's total local aid package in FY 2014 at $4,609,970, compared to the FY 2013 figure of $3,868,300.

That's an additional $741,670.

Local aid includes Chapter 70 dollars, unrestricted general government aid and annual formula local aid.

"We are thankful for the governor's proposal," Younger said. "We just have to see if the Legislature goes along with (it)."

Selectman Jill Sullivan said Swampscott's Dave Whelan, who died Sept. 1, "would be proud."

Dave Whelan spent years trying to get state officials to fund Swampscott at foundation level.

Wednesday was his birthday. He would have been 55.