The Overview
If you live in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, the town can now use surplus money from its golf courses to help pay for synthetic turf field upgrades and other large capital projects. Massachusetts H 5416, the Act authorizing the town of Lynnfield to appropriate funds from the Golf Enterprise Fund to the Recreation Capital Trust Stabilization Fund, became law when Gov. Maura Healey (D) signed it Aug. 28. The bill was filed by vote of the town, and local approval was received.
What the Law Does
Lynnfield's select board may now transfer money from the Golf Enterprise Fund to the Recreation Capital Trust Stabilization Fund to pay for large or long-term capital projects, improvements, and synthetic turf field replacement, including related costs. Transfers are capped at $100,000 per year and can only be made after the town covers the full cost of operating and maintaining the Reedy Meadow and King Rail Golf Courses, including any debt service on those facilities.
The bill would let Lynnfield override section 53F½ of chapter 44 of the General Laws, along with any other general or special law to the contrary. Under that general state rule, revenue collected by a municipal enterprise fund, such as a golf course, must stay within that fund and cannot be redirected to other town purposes. The bill lets Lynnfield, through its select board, move up to $100,000 a year from its Golf Enterprise Fund into a Recreation Capital Trust Stabilization Fund, which can pay for large and long-term capital projects and turf replacement on the town's synthetic turf fields.
Legislative Status
Rep. Brad Jones (R) sponsored the bill alongside Sen. Brendan Crighton (D), making it a joint petition. The bill passed a third reading on June 4 and again on Aug. 17, and it was enacted on Aug. 20. The Citizen Portal reported on the Senate's passage of the bill.
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