Patrick Restores Thousands For Local Programs

Follows Costello, Baddour Budget Recommendations

BOSTON – Governor-elect Deval Patrick has announced that he will restore $383 million in budgetary cuts made by outgoing Governor Mitt Romney last month.

Senator Steven A. Badodur and Michael A. Costello secured hundreds of thousands of dollars for local programs during the budget process, but the money was wiped away by Romney’s cuts. Since being elected, Patrick has reviewed Romney’s cuts and decided to follow the lead of the legislators who made the budget recommendations.

“We want to thank Deval Patrick for recognizing how significant this money is for local cities and towns and more importantly, for the most needy members of our community,” said Rep. Costello. “Social service organizations, early education programs, historic preservation efforts and economic development plans will all benefit from the decision to restore this money.”

Among the items that had been cut from the state budget and now will be funded are:

• $75,000 for the Pettengill House
• $100,000 for the Newburyport YWCA
• $100,000 for the Salisbury Boys and Girls Club
• $100,000 for Newburyport economic development programs
• $25,000 for the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce
• $50,000 for the historic Visitor’s Center at Parson’s Corner, Salisbury
• $50,000 for Amesbury Carriage Alliance visitor’s center
• $20,000 for the Amesbury Cultural Council

“I am certainly happy that the Governor-elect has chosen to restore all of the budget cuts, but I’m particularly pleased that our most needy residents and families will be taken care of,” Rep. Costello said. “The services that organizations like the Pettengill House, the Newburyport YWCA and the Salisbury Boys and Girls Club provide are invaluable and needed to be restored.”