There are funds to hire a full time Wareham Council on Aging director and operate the town’s visitor center in the state’s $39 billion budget.

State Representative Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) joined with her colleagues this week to approve the budget for the new fiscal year that begins on July 1.

Representative Gifford noted that Wareham is scheduled to receive $12,708,042 in Chapter 70 funding, an increase of $149,435 over last year. The town will also receive $1,902,369 in unrestricted general government aid, an increase of $78,429 to help fund a variety of essential municipal services.

In addition to the local aid increase, Representative Gifford secured $55,000 ($5,000 more added from the Senate budget) in the final budget to fund a full time director position for the Wareham Council on Aging as well as $25,000 to be expended on the Route 195 Wareham Visitor Information Center.

The spending plan passed the House of Representatives on a vote of 150-3.

The final budget calls for additional spending of nearly $1 billion over Fiscal Year 2016 levels, representing a 2.6 percent increase. However, the budget also reflects a $413 million reduction in proposed spending due to a projected $750 million revenue shortfall. As a result, many state agencies will be level-funded at their current spending levels in the new fiscal year.

Despite this reduction, the budget provides for a $116.1 million increase in Chapter 70 education aid, bringing the statewide total to $4.6 billion while providing for a $55 per pupil increase. It also includes $1 billion in unrestricted general government aid, representing an increase of $42.1 million, or 4.3 percent, over current funding levels.

“The state is facing many significant financial challenges, but this budget ensures that local aid remains a priority,” said Gifford. “I’m very happy to report that the communities of the second Plymouth District will see an increase in state funding assistance this year.”

The budget includes $80.5 million for charter school reimbursements and $61 million for regional school transportation.

The budget also funds several substance abuse initiatives, including $3.1 million for Recovery High Schools, $1 million for the Substance Abuse Trust Fund, $1 million for the Attorney General to fund programs targeting opioid abuse, and $3 million for medication assisted therapy in emergency rooms. Overall, the budget provides $139.2 million for opioid abuse funding, representing a $23.6 million increase over current funding levels.

For the second year in a row, the budget does not draw money from the Rainy Day Fund. However, a planned $200 million deposit into the fund will no longer take place, due to an expected drop in capital gains tax revenues.

The budget includes language to bring Massachusetts into compliance with the federal REAL ID Act, which requires state driver’s licenses to meet certain minimum mandatory security standards. Massachusetts is currently operating on an extension that is due to expire in October. Without these changes, a Massachusetts driver’s license would no longer be considered an acceptable form of identification for entering a federal building beginning in 2018 or boarding a commercial aircraft beginning in 2020.

The budget proposal, which has also passed the Senate, is now before Governor Charlie Baker for his review. Baker has until July 10 to sign the budget and issue any vetoes.