BOSTON –  A unanimous vote by the Massachusetts Senate to increase regional school transportation reimbursement funding by $2,000,000 during Tuesday’s budget debate.  The amendment raises the reimbursement rate to 73 percent of full funding, at a total of $61,021,000.

Regional school districts often have higher student transportation costs since they cover larger geographic regions. There are currently 58 regional school districts in Massachusetts with 171 member schools.  The transportation money that is not reimbursed by the state comes directly out of their school budgets.  

“Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools (MARS).  “The Senate funding level will maintain reimbursement at 73 percent for FY17.  MARS continues to advocate for funding regional transportation reimbursement at 100 percent, as stated in MGL chapter 71, Section 16C.”

The House of Representatives approved $60,021,000 and the two amounts will be negotiated by the conference committee.

posted by Jeff Bennett