State Representative Susan Williams Gifford (R- Wareham) has secured earmarks to support Wareham initiatives such as $50,000 for a full-time Council on Aging Director, and no less than $25,000 for the operation of the Route I-195 Visitor Information Center in Wareham.

The earmarks are included in the House of Representatives $39.5 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2017, approved unanimously April 27.

Like the budget proposal Gov. Charlie Baker released in January, the House budget does not contain any tax increases and significantly reduces the state’s reliance on one-time revenues. It also provides for increased local aid for cities and towns.

The House budget funds Chapter 70 education aid at $4.6 billion, which is $96 million more than the current fiscal year and $24 million higher than the Governor’s proposal.

Rep. Gifford noted that under the House budget plan, Wareham will receive $12,708,042 in Chapter 70 education aid and $1,902,369 in unrestricted state aid.

“Local aid has and always will be my priority,” said Gifford. “Our cities and towns depend on this funding to assist in providing vital services to our residents.”

State tax revenues for Fiscal Year 2017 are expected to total $26.86 billion, which represents a 4.3 percent increase over the current revenue projections for Fiscal Year 2016. However, both Gov. Baker and the House have attempted to limit spending growth to 3.5 percent.

For the second consecutive year, the House budget does not draw money from the state Stabilization Fund. Instead, it provides for $210 million to be deposited into the fund, which will bring the balance to $1.47 billion. The House budget also relies on $253 million in one-time revenues, which is about $350 million less than the current budget.

The budget now moves to the Senate, which is expected to release its own spending proposal in mid-May.