State Representative Daniel Webster said in a written statement that he is pleased to announce the adoption of a Local Aid amendment that, once implemented, stands to distribute up to $65 million in onetime funding to local cities and towns.

“I was extremely pleased the House adopted an amendment during the budget debate aimed at potentially increasing local aid funding to cities and towns. In the last three years, the legislature has cut local aid funding well in excess of half a billion dollars. This is a conscious effort by the House to begin to restore drastic cuts in local aid,” Representative Webster said.

If approved, and reversions to the General Fund reach past levels, the Town of Duxbury stands to receive approximately $54,209 in onetime funding.

The House Republicans offered the proposal during the House budget debate.  Having passed on a unanimous voice vote, the amendment seeks to distribute unused funding from Fiscal Year 2011 back to local cities and towns. Using the Lottery formula, the Local Aid amendment will allow half of the Commonwealth’s reversions, or $65 million, whichever is less, to be distributed to municipalities.

Historically reversions to the General Fund have averaged approximately $150-$200 million per fiscal year. Having passed the House, the budget now stands before the Senate for consideration.