Rep. Rice successful in getting $1 million in local aid added to state budget

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — State Rep. Robert Rice, D-Gardner, successfully amended the state budget for the coming year to include more than $1 million worth of additional funds that would benefit local community programs, which included the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center and the House of Peace and Education. According to Mr. Rice, the amendments had been slowly passed over a variety of days last week, but the official state budget wasn’t passed until midnight Friday. The budget will now move to the state Senate for further litigation and Mr. Rice said that it is a positive sign for many local institutions. “This is the second step,” said Mr. Rice. “If the state does vote down the proposed state budget, the disagreement must then be settled through a conference committee and then following that discussion before it is then finalized it is sent to the office of the governor for his signature.” Maxyne Schneider, executive director of HOPE, said that she was thrilled that HOPE was amended into the state budget for the first time, and stands to receive $7,500 in addition funding. “I cannot say how deeply grateful we are because that amount of money for us is a very substantial amount,” said Ms. Schneider. “The money is coming to us at a time when the community is continually asking us to expand our resources. It really is an extraordinary gift.” Also being amended into the state budget is the MVOC which stands to receive $367,422, and according to Executive Director Darrell Keating, the funding will keep the center at its standard operating budget. “Basically, the funds will give us level funding compared to this current fiscal year, we were seeking additional funds but that apparently is not going to happen,” said Mr. Keating. “We are very happy with level funding, it means we will not have to cut any of our programs that we already have.” Mr. Keating added that funding comes at a time when the increase in gas prices has greatly affected the center’s budget, and the increase in food prices has had a negative effect on the size of their food bank. According to Mr. Rice, the amended budget included funding to other programs in the area, including: $100, 000 for the On Site Academy; $75,000 for the Gardner Community Development Center; $7,500 for the Bonnie Brae Day Camp; $5,000 to both the Gardner and Winchendon Community Action Councils; $10,000 for the Bresnehan Scouting Center in Ashburnham; $50,000 for the Molly Bish Center at Mount Wachusett Community College and $199,405 for the Unity House in Gardner. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 5/7/2008 (Vol. 203 No. 109)