from MA Dept. of Education
March 24, 2004
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
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Building Assistance Program (February 9, 2004); Submitted February 24, 2003, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 70B, Section 17
Following the trend of recent years, over 120 school construction and renovation applications were initiated in FY03. In response to this high demand and in recognition of the extensive list of projects on the Priority List, the Commissioner imposed a moratorium on new project applications in the FY03 application cycle. After great demand from local proponents in the final stages of project planning, language was included in the FY04 budget to require the Department to accept school construction projects that had local funding approval by June 30, 2003.
As a result, department staff reviewed 92 new project applications that met the local funding deadline. These projects were approved by the Commissioner and added to List C of the waiting list as follows:
13 addition and/or renovation projects (3 elementary, 2 middle and 8 high schools)
17 new buildings (10 elementary, 3 middle and 4 high schools)
62 major repair projects (32 elementary, 12 middle and 18 high schools)
Two of the approved projects were included on List A under the grandfather provision of Chapter 151 at a reimbursement rate of 90%. The average reimbursement rate for the 90 remaining projects included on List C is 65.42%. The 92 projects increased the annual authorization on the Priority List by $58.6 million and reflect a total grant increase of $1.1 billion.
Three new high school projects have received local funding but have not completed all of the required application material. These projects will be added to the Priority List when all requirements are met. A four-year moratorium has been placed on new SBA applications, effective July 1, 2003.
