BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker has restored $5 million to a fund that supports student transportation for the 85 regional school systems in Massachusetts.

The appropriation covers some of the $18 million that was cut from regional school transportation funding last year by the previous governor, Deval Patrick.

“Our communities depend on local aid for transportation and education, and that support remains a top priority for our administration despite the budget deficit we inherited upon taking office,” said Baker, who became governor in January.

After the $18 million was cut last year, the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools (MARS) worked to get some of the funding restored and to try to prevent future cuts. On Thursday, MARS expressed its appreciation for the $5 million that the Baker administration appropriated.

“The large 9c regional transportation cut by the previous administration has caused fiscal concerns within regions,” MARS Executive Director Stephen Hemman said, adding that the restoration of $5 million “will help toward providing regions with funds that they were counting on receiving this year.”