Updated: Town Administrator Says Chapter 70 Funding Hopes Dim

What was once promising news for education funding in Swampscott — Chapter 70 dollars — now looks far less promising.

On Wednesday night Town Administrator Tom Younger told selectmen the House and Senate do not appear to support funding the town at 17.5 percent of foundation funding — the minimum amount needed to educate students in a town.

Gov. Deval Patrick had proposed a $700,000 increase for Swampscott in his proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget, thereby bringing the town to the foundation level.

But the House and Senate look as if the best they would do for Swampscott is a $190,000 increase, leaving the town about $500,000 short of the $700,000 threshhold, he said.

And the town may receive less than the $190,000 increase; maybe no increase, at all, the town administrator said.

Younger said he is not optimistic that the town will receive the $700,00 the governor had proposed.

And this is not good news for Swampscott schools.

The town did not bank on the Chapter 70 increase when it assembled its 2013-14 budget. Rather it took a conservative approach that included some painful cuts.

School officials said earlier that their best hope, to avoid those cuts, was to see the governor's budget approved by the Legislature.

If the $700,000 increase was to stand they would not have to increase elementary class sizes and cut positions, officials said.

State Rep. Lori Ehrlich cautions that the final budget has yet to emerge.

She is a member of the House Ways & Means Committee and has yet to see the final budget

Massachusetts legislators have at least in part answered Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to raise $1.9 billion for transportation and education.

They have a $500 million plan — far less than the governor's plan, according to Patch reporter Daniel DeMaina.

But there is more funding to be addressed, said Rep. Ehrlich.

"The transportation funding bill under discussion right now doesn't address education funding at all," the representative said. "Education, as it always has, will be taken up as part of the state budget which is due to be released next week to begin the process."

She went on to say that, "Last year, as a result of years of advocacy, Swampscott realized about $400,000 of progress on the path towards 17.5% equity and I am hopeful we will continue to close that gap."

The representative says she does not support the governor's $1.9 billion spending plan and massive income tax increase — especially after hearing how overburdened people in Swampscott feel about taxes.