The Massachusetts Department of Revenue released local aid estimates, better known as “cherry sheets”, for municipalities across the Commonwealth earlier this week, with Westford receiving just under $19 million in FY’ 16.
Most of that amount, $16.4 million, will come from Chapter 70 money allocated to school districts, with approximately $1.9 million coming in unrestricted general government aid.
The rest comes in reimbursements for local tax rebates and benefits given to the disabled, elderly, veterans. The amount also includes reimbursements for charter school student enrollments, taxes lost due to state owned land, out-of-town student enrollment and help for local libraries.
Among its neighboring towns, Westford received more in Chapter 70 aid and aid for out-of-town school enrollments, better known as School Choice. It also received more in general government aid than any neighbor other than Chelmsford ($4.6 million), but received less in other areas.
Compared to towns of comparable size, Westford also received more Chapter 70 aid, outstripping Ludlow ($13.4 million), Wilmington ($10.9 million), Reading ($10.2 million), Winthrop ($6.3 million), Hingham ($6.6 million), Canton ($5 million) and Stoneham ($3.8 million.)
Westford also received more in School Choice aid than any town on that list except for Ludlow, but received less general aid than any town on that list, excluding Hingham.
Statewide, Springfield got the most Chapter 70 aid at an estimated figure of $309.1 million while 46 communities received no Chapter 70 aid at all.
Boston received the most overall aid at $418.3 million. Aquinnah, a small village on Martha’s Vineyard, will have the smallest projected aid amount at only $6,441.
CORRECTION: Aquinnah is on Martha’s Vineyard, not the Elizabeth Islands.
