Town gets boost from new state budget

Aug 11, 2022

The Town of Dartmouth will be receiving quite a boost in state funding as part of the recently passed state budget for fiscal year 2023.

Under the $52.7 billion spending plan for the state, Dartmouth will receive more than $13 million from the state — notably in the areas of education and unrestricted government funds. 

Chapter 70 funds are earmarked for public school funding. This year, Darmtouth will receive $10,251,151 in those funds, a nearly 2% increase from the previous fiscal year.

Unrestricted government funds can be used by the towns as they please. Under the new budget, Dartmouth is set to receive $2,920,124, representing a 5.4% increase from fiscal year 2022.

Dartmouth will also receive state funding toward a number of restoration efforts around town as part of amendments filed by State Rep. Chris Markey (D-Dartmouth) and State Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford).

Under the budget, the Council on Aging will receive $50,000 to upgrade the kitchen at its Bliss Corner center, something Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly President Maria Connor said will help bring the facility “into the 21st century.”

“Right now, it has a lot of Band-Aids,” she said. “We have a lot of programs that come out of there and it is embarrassing to try and do all of that out of a kitchen that is falling apart.”

The Dartmouth Historical and Arts Society will also receive $25,000 to make upgrades to its building, which is located on Russells Mills Road.

According to Bob Harding, the society’s president, funds will go toward preparing and painting the exterior of the old school house and “other tasks for preserving the historic fabric of the building.”

“The preservation of our headquarters building and grounds, the 1871 Russells Mills Schoolhouse, is of paramount importance to the milieu of the Historic District of Russells Mills Village in the town of Dartmouth,” he said. 

Additionally, UMass Law will receive $75,000 for pro bono activities done by students ​​providing legal assistance to tenants and the state will officially become owners of UMass Dartmouth’s Star Store campus in New Bedford