State Senate Approves Money For UMass Raises, Financial Aid

BOSTON (AP) — The state Senate has approved a supplemental budget that provides nearly $11 million to the University of Massachusetts for negotiated raises and student financial aid.

The funding settles a dispute between UMass and state lawmakers that dates to October when the Senate did not include the money UMass president Marty Meehan expected to cover overdue collectively-bargained salary increases for faculty and staff.

The money was removed from the supplemental budget because Meehan declined to reduce student fees.

Since then, an agreement has been reached between Meehan and Senate President Stanley Rosenberg.

The state House of Representatives approved the $167.6 million supplemental budget earlier this week. Of UMass' nearly $11 million portion, about $7 million will go to student aid.

Rosenberg said in the new deal "everybody wins."

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