The following items of local interest were adopted in the FY17 budget:
Belmont (amendments offered by Representative Roger and included in the final package):
2000-1000: “and provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for energy conservation projects for school and town buildings in Belmont;”
2800-0401: “provided, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the purpose of sampling and testing of storm water systems in Belmont;”
Watertown ( amendments offered by Representatives Hecht and Lawn and Senator Brownsberger and included in the final package ):
7008-0900: “provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for a grant to the 128 Business Council for planning and development of a transportation management association serving the Arsenal Street and Pleasant Street corridors in Watertown;”
8000-0600: “provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the town of Watertown for public safety improvements;”
7061-0012: “provided further, that not less than $500,000 shall be expended for school districts in which special education costs exceed 25 per cent of the total district costs and in which tuition and other circuit-breaker eligible costs for placements at an approved private school located within the district exceed both $1,000,000 and 25 per cent of all tuition and other circuit-breaker eligible costs for placements at approved private schools;”
Boston (amendments offered by Representatives Honan, Moran, and Livingstone and included in final package):
2330-0100: “provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for programs at the Fishing Academy, Inc., for young people in greater Boston;”
2810-0100: “provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for the Let’s Row Boston program administered by Community Rowing, Inc. in Boston;”
7004-0099: “provided further, that not less than $50,000 be expended for the operation of a computer technology center at the Commonwealth Housing Development in Brighton;”
7008-0900: “provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Inc.;”
“provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for the Head of the Charles Regatta to cover costs associated with public safety;”
Andrew Bettinelli
Legislative Aide
Office of State Senator William N. Brownsberger
Why “not less than” rather than “not more than?”
A budget constrains expenses, doesn’t it?
Are these things unbounded above?
Good question — lines that read this way are within lines that specify a maximum total but also cover other spending goals.