Milford Schools Could Get Casino Money in Senate Bill

Milford schools could potentially qualify for as much as $1.8 million in restored state aid, under an amendment to thel approved by the state Senate last week.

The amendment allows local schools that have seen their state aid cut in recent years to benefit from casino revenues sent to the state. Because the House version of the casino bill did not include this language, a conference committee will have to approve it.

The state Senate and House have approved slightly different versions of legislation that would authorize up to three casinos in Massachusetts. Milford could potentially be one of the locations to receive a license. has been trying to gain state approval for a casino off for several years.

An analysis of the Senate school aid amendment by the Boston Globe concludes that many of the state's poorest school systems, such as Boston, Worcester and Springfield, would receive nothing because they have had full funding of state aid in recent years, while wealthy suburban districts, including Wellesley and Newton, could receive some casino revenues.

A chart of school systems, based on 2010-11 data, indicates Milford could receive as much as $1.8 million in state aid it never received through a 2006 formula change.