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East Bridgewater Star
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House-Senate Conference Committee Completes Work on Compromise
Budget for FY06
SENATOR JOYCE TO HOLD EAST BRIDGEWATER OFFICE HOURS ON
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
SENATOR JOYCE ANNOUNCES PASSAGE OF EDUCATION FUNDING
REFORM
EDUCATION REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY FOR SENATOR JOYCE LEGISLATURE
PLANS LEVEL FUNDING FOR LOCAL AID, FUNDING INCREASES FOR TRANSPORTATION
AND SPECIAL EDUCATION
MITCHELL MIDDLE SCHOOL RECEIVES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD
IMMEDIATE OPENINGS FOR SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE POSITIONS
IN EAST BRIDGEWATER
'COMMUNITY' CHOICE PILOT PROGRAM LAUNCHED
For Immediate Release: July 12, 2005
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
House-Senate Conference Committee Completes Work on Compromise Budget
for FY06
Senator Brian A. Joyce, Senator Robert S. Creedon and Representative Kathleen
Teahan this week announced the approval of a House-Senate Conference Committee
compromise budget for fiscal year 2006 that maintains the Senates
commitment to local aid to cities and towns, education, health care and
public safety. The measure was approved by both the Senate and House of
Representatives and heads to the Governor for his approval.
Local Aid
Providing additional funding for financially strapped communities was
a critical component of both the Senates budget and the Legislatures
final compromise bill. Specifically, the Legislatures budget includes
an increase in lottery aid by $100 million to $761 million, and it also
accelerates the schedule to uncap the lottery distribution by allowing
it to begin in FY06 rather than FY07. In addition, the budget increases
the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) funding by $3.1 million.
Education
The Legislatures budget also reaffirms a commitment to education
from pre-kindergarten through college.
For early education, the budget establishes and provides the structure
and funding necessary for the programs under the new Department of Early
Education and Care. In addition, it makes an initial investment of $10
million to improve the quality of early education.
The Legislatures budget also makes a commitment to primary and secondary
school age children by increasing Chapter 70 funding by $105.6 million.
This additional funding guarantees that every school district sees an
increase of at least $50 per student. East Bridgewater will receive an
additional $284,084 in education aid. In addition, the budget includes
an increase of $45 million for regional transportation, which will help
ease the burden communities have been shouldering.
Even though the Senates education funding reserve was not included
in the final compromise the House of Representatives has made a commitment
to reforming the education funding formula. When the Legislatures
Joint Committee on Education reports out a bill reforming the Chapter
70 funding formula, and it is passed, the House has pledged that additional
funding will be made available.
Public Safety
The Legislature included several public safety initiatives in their final
budget passed by both branches.
The Commonwealths Community Policing Program is an essential component
to fighting crime in cities and towns across Massachusetts. Recognizing
the importance of this program, the Legislatures budget includes
$21.2 million in funding for Community Policing Grants. It also includes
a five percent increase for the states 11 District Attorneys and
a 2.1 percent increase for Sheriffs Departments. The Legislatures
plan also fully funds the gang violence prevention initiatives and two
new Massachusetts State Police cadet classes.
Knowing that more and more investigations will rely on DNA evidence, the
budget also provides funding for additional space and personnel for the
State Police Crime lab, and full funding for the Office of the Chief Medical
Examiner.
In addition to law enforcement, the budget provides fire safety education
for children by fully funding the Student Awareness of Fire Education
(SAFE) program. The plan also addresses the backlog of recruits for the
Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Health Care
Acknowledging that health care is the one of the biggest challenges facing
the Commonwealth, the Legislatures budget makes a commitment to
providing Massachusetts residents with access to health care.
Senator Joyce was successful in co-sponsoring $300,000 for stroke awareness
and $1.3 million for prostate screening initiatives. Knowing that the
issue of substance abuse must be addressed over $47 million was secured
for substance abuse prevention across the Commonwealth.
The Legislatures budget restores two vital MassHealth health benefits
for pregnant women and new mothers: comprehensive dental coverage and
smoking cessation benefits. These benefits are extremely important because
they encourage healthy pregnancies and reduce the incidences of premature/low-birth
weight infants.
The Legislature continues to recognize the vital role hospitals play,
not only in sustaining the health of our residents, but also in our economy.
Accordingly, $11.7 million in payments is provided to hospitals with high
volumes of public payer patients and $12 million in payments to pediatric
hospitals and specialty units.
Too many residents continue to face the impossible choice of whether to
put food on their table or pay for costly prescriptions. The budget fully
funds the states Prescription Advantage program for six months,
until the implementation of Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.
Upon implementation of this new federal program, we fund a new supplemental
prescription drug assistance program to complement Medicare Part Ds
prescription drug coverage starting January 1, 2006, in order to help
enrollees cover the cost of premiums, co-pays, and gaps in coverage under
the federal plan.
The budget also includes funding and authorization for a Spring 2006 open
enrollment period in Prescription Advantage, to allow all eligible applicants
equal opportunity to receive the supplemental assistance for their Medicare
Part D prescription drug coverage.
The Legislature continues to be mindful of the needs of our elders and
the challenges they face later in life. We, therefore, aim to assist these
individuals, as well as those who care for them.
The budget provides an increase in funding for the Enhanced Community
Options Program by $4.5 million in order to clear any waiting lists for
this program in FY06. This program provides services to elders at imminent
risk of entering a nursing home. In addition, $3.9 million is dedicated
to wage increases for Homemakers and Personal Homemakers. These low-income
health care workers are the front-line caregivers for elders and the disabled
residing in community-based settings.
Councils on Aging offer seniors opportunities to continue to be active
in their communities and gives seniors occasions to participate in various
enriching programs. Recognizing the importance of these centers, the Legislatures
budget includes $7 million in grants to local Councils on Aging, a $500,000
increase from FY05.
The Legislature also increases funding for the Protective Services Program
by $1.3 million in order to eliminate any waiting list for these services
aimed at protecting the Commonwealths elders from abuse and fraud.
This includes $800,000 for the Elder Money Management program.
In addition, the budget also utilizes an innovative funding method to
generate financial support for the Commonwealths nursing homes.
The budget maintains nursing home funding through the Nursing Home User
Fee and distributes funding through increased Medicaid rates that include:
$50 million to increase nursing staff wages and to improve staff
to patient ratios.
$17 million for nursing homes capital costs, prioritizing under-bedded
areas, quality-improving projects and de-institutionalization initiatives.
$9 million in funding for nursing home bed hold days, ensuring
seniors retain their bed after a medical or non-medical leave of absence.
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For Immediate Release: September, 2004
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
SENATOR JOYCE TO HOLD EAST BRIDGEWATER OFFICE HOURS
ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Senator Brian A. Joyce is pleased to announce that he will hold office
hours in East Bridgewater on Friday, September 24th from 11 a.m. to 12
p.m. in the Main Conference Room of East Bridgewater Town Hall.
I encourage all interested constituents to attend my district office
hours, said Senator Joyce. This is an opportunity for me to
listen to the concerns of the people of East Bridgewater, and hopefully
provide some guidance and solutions.
East Bridgewater Town Hall is located at 175 Central Street. As always,
individuals with questions or concerns are encouraged to call Senator
Joyces State House office at (617) 722-1643, or his home at (617)
696-0200 day or night. The Senator can also be reached by email at [email protected].
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For Immediate Release: July 24, 2004
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
SENATOR JOYCE ANNOUNCES PASSAGE OF EDUCATION FUNDING
REFORM
Would increase East Bridgewater Funding by $117,900
School districts in Massachusetts would gain valuable additional education
assistance under a plan passed this week by the Senate.
The legislation seeks to address current inequities in the states
education funding formula and will mean thousands of extra dollars for
communities across the state.
Many towns have suffered for some time under a formula that has
shortchanged their school districts, said Senator Brian A. Joyce.
This plan seeks to iron out these inequities and deliver additional
assistance to school district across the Commonwealth who are in dire
need of added financial resources.
Specifically, the proposed formula change will mean an additional $117,900
for East Bridgewater in FY06, with further increases each year for the
following six years totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Under the bill, Chapter 70 education aid will increase by $150 to $175
million a year, while helping reduce disparities in aid to and local contributions
required of similar communities and encouraging professional growth among
teachers and administrators.
To cope with the rising costs of health care, special education, and other
expenses while attracting and retaining good teachers, maintaining small
class sizes and expanding opportunities for students, all districts would
see aid grow by at least $50 per pupil.
The legislation has been sent to the House of Representatives for action.
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For Immediate Release: April 22, 2004
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
EDUCATION REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY FOR SENATOR JOYCE
LEGISLATURE PLANS LEVEL FUNDING FOR LOCAL AID, FUNDING INCREASES FOR TRANSPORTATION
AND SPECIAL EDUCATION
With this budget we are preserving our investment in our students
and schools, said Senator Brian A. Joyce this week, announcing that
a Senate and House budget resolution for the next fiscal year will be
boosted by $75 million for local aid, to more than $3.1 billion.
The Legislatures plan also commits to an $80 million increase in
Special Education Circuit Breaker funding reimbursing communities
approximately 65 percent compared to last years 35 percent reimbursement
rate, and the plan increases Regional School Transportation by $11.6 million
over last years funding level.
We are at risk of having our economic downturn back the progress
weve made in our schools but the Legislature has made the choice
to preserve and reinforce our commitment to classrooms, said Senator
Joyce.
Senator Joyce noted that the proposed figures for education will preserve
funding for East Bridgewater at $9,132,173 in FY05.
Senator Joyce expects that education will continue to be a top priority
in the FY05 budget and reiterated his commitment to investing in
our schools so that the progress we have made in improving public education
can be maintained and ensure our students of a bright future while at
the same time continue our efforts to keep pressure off local property
taxpayers.
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For Immediate Release: April 28, 2002
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
MITCHELL MIDDLE SCHOOL RECEIVES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD
Senator Brian A. Joyce, Senator Robert S. Creedon, and Representative
Kathleen M. Teahan are pleased to announce that East Bridgewater Gordon
W. Mitchell Middle School has been awarded the Secretary's Award for Excellence
in Environmental Education from Ellen Roy Herzfelder, Secretary of the
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA).
The Middle School was selected based on their impressive environmental
program, particularly their trout in the Classroom project.
Learning about nature is an integral part of understanding the importance
of preserving our environment, Senator Joyce said. I commend
the students of the Middle School for their work on behalf of the environment.
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For Immediate Release: December 6, 2002
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
IMMEDIATE OPENINGS FOR SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE POSITIONS
IN EAST BRIDGEWATER
Senator Brian A. Joyce announces that positions are available in a training
program for seniors interested in earning a supplemental income while
developing job skills and participating in community service.
The Senior AIDES (Able Industrious Dedicated Energetic Service) Program,
administered by Old Colony Elderly Services, is a federally funded program
that places seniors in positions such as teachers aides, office workers,
computer operators, child and adult care workers and custodians.
The program is designed to promote independence, self-assurance and revitalize
job skills so seniors can transition back to unsubsidized employment.
To be eligible, applicants mush be 55 years or older, meet income guidelines,
live in a service area and have the long-term goal of integrating into
the workplace.
If interested, contact the Senior AIDES Coordinator at (508) 584-1561
or 1-800-242-0246.
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For Immediate Release: October 31, 2002
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
'COMMUNITY' CHOICE PILOT PROGRAM LAUNCHED
Enhanced home care option now available to seniors
Senator Brian A. Joyce is pleased to announce that the state has launched
a $3.9 million pilot program which will allow seniors to choose community
based services over institutionalized care.
The Community Choices pilot program, modeled after Senator Joyces
Equal Choice bill, was secured by the senator in the state budget and
is designed to remedy the gross disparity in Medicaid aid between individuals
who choose to receive care at home, and those who seek care in an institution.
The current structure of Medicaid reimbursement leaves many seniors
with no real choice other than institutionalization. It is small wonder,
then, that more than 80 percent of our long-term care spending goes towards
institutionalized care.
The reality is that this pilot program is not only the fiscally
responsible thing to do, but it also provides a fair and compassionate
solution to those who find themselves no longer able to care for themselves,
said Senator Joyce.
Under the program, integrated health care services are provided at home
to persons whose health care costs would be at least 50 percent below
the cost of care they would otherwise receive in an institution under
the states Medicaid long-term care waiver. Institutional care is
far more costly than care provided at home. Medicaid currently pays $51,516
per person for nursing home care.
This program will guarantee that seniors will receive care in the
least restrictive setting. It ends discrimination against persons with
disabilities by providing home care as an alternative to institutional
care, said Al Norman, executive director of Mass Home Care.
The program will be available to eligible seniors beginning November 1,
2002. For more information, please call your local Aging Service Access
Point who can review your case for eligibility and provide you with the
services that best meet your needs. In Avon, East Bridgewater, Easton,
Stoughton and West Bridgewater, please call Old Colony Elderly Services,
Inc at 508-584-1561 or Old Colony Planning Council at 508-583-1833.
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