Natalie Higgins Columnist Last month, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed its Fiscal Year 2022 budget. This budget responds to the needs of residents and makes investments that set the state on a path toward economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded at $47.716 billion, the House’s FY22 budget continues its strong commitment to cities and towns, and includes significant investments in education, supportive services for vulnerable populations, and workforce and economic development, among other priorities. After three days of debate and over a thousand proposed amendments, the budget passed by the House of Representatives 160-0. The FY22 House budget reflects the local aid commitment recently made by the House and Senate. It increases Unrestricted General Government Aid by $39.5 million over FY21, for a total of $1.168 billion, and Chapter 70 education funding by $219.6 million over FY21, for a total of $5.503 billion, fully funding the first year of a six-year implementation plan of the Student Opportunity Act. The House’s FY22 budget also creates a $40 million enrollment reserve fund to help school districts, like Leominster Public Schools, whose fall enrollment is negatively impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.