Legislature Approves State Budget; Protects Aid to City

Haverhill Rep. Brian S. Dempsey, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Increases in state local aid and education money for Haverhill were protected in a pared down $39.15 billion state budget approved by the legislature Thursday.

Haverhill will receive about $9.5 million in unrestricted state aid—an increase of $390 thousand over last year—and $49.6 million in education funding—an increase of $3.1 million in additional money from the state. In addition to local aid, the budget again includes $2.4 million to offset the debt from the former city-owned Hale Hospital.

“I appreciate that my colleagues continue to recognize the city’s unique financial needs due to the Hale hospital debt,’ said Haverhill Rep. Brian S. Dempsey, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which developed the budget. “I have worked extremely hard to ensure support for Haverhill as the city continues to address the impact of the Hale.” Over the years, Dempsey said, he has been able to secure $19 million in state assistance to help pay the $85 million hospital debt. The debt includes workers’ pension and health care the city agreed to pay over 20 years.

Haverhill acquired Hale Hospital in 1931, opened a new campus in 1984 and sold the hospital in 2001 after suffering substantial losses.

Dempsey was joined by Newburyport Sen. Kathleen O’Connor Ives (D-Newburyport) and Methuen Reps. Linda Dean Campbell (D-Methuen) and Diana Dizoglio (D-Methuen) in announcing passage of the state budget. It is still subject to approval from Gov. Charlie Baker.

The budget for the year beginning Friday increases local education money by $116.1 million and local aid by $42.1 million statewide. Local education money under Chapter 70 of stet law “guarantees that every school district will receive $55 per pupil in FY17, more than doubling the FY16 amount of per pupil aid,” a statement said. The budget also increases the state’s share of the Special Education Circuit Breaker by $6 million and increases investments in Regional School Transportation by $1 million. The circuit breaker program provides additional state money for high-cost special education students.

Haverhill Agencies in Line to Receive State Assistance

Dempsey was also successful in obtaining direct state support for a number of agencies working throughout the city. Included in the budget is an additional $1 million for Northern Essex Community College for expanded educational programming; $65,000 for Emmaus, which provides shelter and emergency services for women and families in Haverhill; $100,000 for the YWCA Winter St. renovation project, which will create affordable housing for low-income women in Haverhill and expand child care center; and $25,000 for the St. James Food Pantry. Other aid includes grants of $500,000 for Haverhill Public Schools, $50,000 for the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce, $25,000 for Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, $50,000 for American Legion Post 4 and $30,000 for non-profit WHAV’s expanded programming.

The federally mandated Emergency Alert System may also be used by state and local officials to deliver important emergency information.

The WHAV amount includes local implementation of the Emergency Alert System (EAS), a national warning system broadcasting important public safety information during times of emergency. Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has the authority to interrupt WHAV’s programming on behalf of the governor, MEMA director, Massachusetts State Police and National Weather Service.

The budget also supports services that address the needs of at risk youth in Haverhill, delivering $25,000 each for Haverhill Downtown Boxing Club, Haverhill Inner City Boxing and Power of Self Education (POSE) Teen Center