Budget Amendment ID: FY2025-S4-660-R2

2nd Redraft EDU 660

Chapter 70 Task Force

Mr. Lewis, Ms. Rausch, Messrs. Eldridge, Keenan, Tarr, Rush, O'Connor, Brady, Gomez and Cronin, Ms. Moran, Messrs. Velis, Moore and Payano, Ms. Kennedy, Ms. Edwards and Messrs. Feeney, Oliveira and Montigny moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 106 the following section:-

“SECTION 106A. (a) There shall be a chapter 70 task force to study and make recommendations for updating the calculation of required local contributions as defined in section 2 of chapter 70 of the General Laws.

(b) The task force shall consist of: the secretary of education or a designee, who shall serve as co-chair; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or a designee; the commissioner of revenue or a designee; a representative from the Massachusetts Teachers Association; a representative from the American Federation of Teachers-Massachusetts; a representative from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, Inc.; a representative from the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, Inc.; a representative from the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, Inc.; a representative from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Inc.; a representative from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Inc.; a representative from the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials, Inc.; a representative from  the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Inc.; a representative from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc.; and 2 members appointed by the secretary of education, who shall have experience in elementary and secondary education finance or municipal finance, and reside in rural areas in the commonwealth. A member who is not a state government official or employee shall be elected as co-chair by a majority vote of the other members of the task force. The secretary shall convene the first meeting of the task force not later than 60 days after the passage of this act.

(c) The task force shall study and make recommendations on the local contribution calculations pursuant to section 2 of chapter 70 of the General Laws, including, but not limited to the: (i) extent to which the wealth and income measures accurately determine a municipality's resources and a municipality’s ability to contribute to its foundation budget costs; (ii) impact of chapter 132 of the acts of 2019 on foundation budget increases, target local contributions and required local contributions; (iii) impact of the increasing number of municipalities that are subject to the 82.5 per cent maximum local contribution; (iv) impact of the fixed 59 per cent local share of the statewide foundation budget on the calculation of combined effort yield for each municipality; (v) extent to which the municipal revenue growth factor accurately captures a municipality's expected revenue increases; (vi) increasing number of municipalities that are subject to below effort adjustments; (vii) impact of low and declining student enrollment; (viii) impact of section 21C of chapter 59 of the General Laws on municipalities and their ability to make their required local contributions; and (ix) any other potential impacts from the local contribution calculations. The task force shall review reports and other related documents, including, but not limited to, the local contribution study pursuant to section 21 of said chapter 132.

(d) The task force shall solicit public input and hold not less than 3 public hearings; provided, however, that at least 1 hearing shall be held in an accessible and rural or rural-serving community in western Massachusetts and at least 1 hearing shall include an option for remote participation.

(e) Not later than June 1, 2025, the task force shall issue a report with recommendations, including any legislative or regulatory changes that may be necessary, to update the education funding formula. The report shall be submitted to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the joint committee on education and the house and senate committees on ways and means.”