School Building Aid Back in Budget

Before yesterday debate on the state budget, Adam Krauss of Foster's Daily Democrat took a look at the Senate Finance Committee's decision to restore more than $80 million in school building aid cut by the House:

The House's budget proposal didn't include the aid after the chamber's Public Works Committee cut it from the capital budget over disagreements with Gov. John Lynch's plan to fund it with bonds.

The Senate version pays for the aid through the operating budget and increases the proposal that was before the House by $4 million.

"We did it because we have affection for the local taxpayers," committee chairman Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester, said of the increased amount.

Without the funds, local property taxpayers would have to pay more to ensure districts pay off construction and building bonds that were already taken out, which the aid supports, he said.

The Senate budget still cuts municipal revenue sharing under Chapter 31-A, but does not suspend Rooms and Meals revenue sharing as originally proposed by Governor John Lynch.