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State Rep. John Zlotnik outlines risks to school and road funding, confirms $100,000 youth center earmark
Summary
Representative John Zlotnik told the Gardner City Council that changes to Chapters 90 and 70 and federal funding shifts are creating pressure on the FY27 state budget; he confirmed a $100,000 second-year earmark for Gardner's new youth center and urged vigilance on formula protections for rural communities.
Representative John Zlotnik delivered a roughly hour‑long district update to the Gardner City Council on April 6, focusing on how state funding formulas and recent policy changes may affect the city in the coming budget cycle.
Zlotnik, a member of the state House, described Chapter 90 as “the state‑local aid for roads,” and said the program — originally intended to help municipalities buy large equipment — now functions as a primary source for local road maintenance. He explained that a recent compromise created a parallel fund intended to give towns with many road miles more credit, noting Gardner saw its Chapter 90 apportionment rise by more than double in the most recent year but that the change is not permanent. “It is something that year after year we’re going to have to fight for and negotiate,” Zlotnik said.
On school funding, Zlotnik said Chapter 70 remains the city’s largest source of school revenue and that this is the final fiscal year for implementing the Student Opportunity Act reforms. “The city of Gardner gets about 70% of their school budget from the state in the form of Chapter 70,” he said, adding that the law requires a review of the formula in the final implementation year so the state can recommend further adjustments.
Zlotnik gave a frank assessment of the state fiscal picture: while the stabilization account is robust (he cited roughly $9 billion), the state has enacted nearly $2 billion in tax cuts and faces about $3 billion in reduced federal‑level spending across two fiscal years. He said additional state tax cuts under consideration could total as much as $4 billion and that those factors together will force difficult budget choices.
Zlotnik also delivered some local news: he said the House passed funding for a second year of Gardner’s youth center, and confirmed the earmark is $100,000. He said the Senate was expected to take up the companion measure shortly.
Councilors pressed Zlotnik on what program areas are typically subject to reduction in tighter budgets and on whether the state’s large stabilization account would soften future cuts. Zlotnik said the account provides a cushion but urged local officials to take a cautious approach because revenues are beginning to slow relative to the boom years.
The council thanked Zlotnik for the briefing; he remained at the meeting to answer follow‑up questions about specific local projects and potential impacts on state assistance.
