School Committee of Lexington v. Commissioner of Education

*594Lynch, J.

On October 7, 1985, the town of Lexington and the school committee of Lexington (Lexington), and the city of Newton and the school committee of Newton (Newton) filed actions seeking declaratory judgments, G. L. c. 231A (1984 ed.), in the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County, that St. 1985, c. 140 (the 1986 fiscal year appropriations act), line item 7035-0004,4 is ineffective in light of G. L. c. 29, § 27C, the “local mandate” provision of St. 1980, c. 580 (Proposition 2XA). After the single justice allowed the parties’ joint motion to consolidate the two actions, the defendants,…