REPRESENTATIVE DEMETRIUS J. ATSALIS ANNOUNCES   CO-SPONSORSHIP OF CHAPTER 70 FY07 BUDGET AMENDMENTS

Boston, MA – Today State Representative Demetrius J. Atsalis (D-Hyannis) announced he is co-sponsoring two budget amendments to the Fiscal Year 2007 budget that would restore local aid funding for education. As this issue affects citizens from all walks of life, Representative Atsalis has signed on to an amendment from fellow Democrat, Representative Eric Turkington, as well as one from the House Minority Leader, Representative Bradley Jones, a Republican. Both amendments serve to restore Chapter 70 funding to the 2^{nd Barnstable District to levels prior to the budget cuts that have taken place in recent years.}

Since Rep. Atsalis took office in 1999 he has worked towards finding a more equitable state education funding formula for the Cape Cod community, which has been one of his top priorities. The problem the Commonwealth is facing concerning the funding of public education is the direct result of the state basing the education aid formula on property taxes as the sole measure of a town’s wealth, or ability to pay for educational costs. Nearly three years ago Representative Atsalis filed legislation proposing  a local aid  formula giving equal weight to median income and property values,  which has become known as The Median Income Option.

"I support any attempts by my fellow legislators to change the way state education funding is dispersed that will benefit the communities in the 2nd Barnstable District and I will personally work until this formula is corrected.", Rep. Atsalis said.