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The following was submitted by the Office of Rep. Michael Day:
The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a $1.3 billion supplemental budget on April 9 that includes $353 million for education related investments and $828 million for transportation related investments.
“Recognizing the budgetary pressures our towns are under because of inflation and our commitment to utilize funds collected by the Fair Share Amendment passed in 2022, yesterday I joined my colleagues in the House in passing a supplemental budget that will provide $1.3 billion in investments in education and transportation,” said Rep. Michael Day. “I am also happy to report that I secured two direct appropriations to Stoneham and Winchester to help defray school transportation and drainage infrastructure costs, respectively.”
Day secured a direct appropriation of $150,000 for Stoneham to help defray school transportation costs and a direct appropriation of $125,000 for drainage improvements in Winchester. Both of these sums will allow the towns to shift costs from these projects to other budget priorities.
The bill also includes $190 million for Circuit Breaker reimbursements, which provide financial assistance to public school districts to offset high-cost special education services to students. These funds will increase reimbursements to Stoneham and Winchester schools from 44% to 75% of funds spent by the towns.
The supplemental budget includes revenues generated from the Fair Share ballot initiative voters approved in November 2022, which established a new surtax of four 4% on annual income above $1 million and invests these new public dollars to improve the state’s education and transportation sectors.
Other statewide investments include:
Education
• $50 million for capital improvements at vocational schools
• $40 million for early education and care (EEC) workforce, affordability, and quality improvement supports
• $10 million for universal school meals for every public-school student in the Commonwealth
• $10 million for DHE Endowment Match
• $10 million for University of Massachusetts Endowment Match
• $10 million for Green SchoolWorks to decarbonize and increase efficiency in our schools through green energy projects
• $8.5 million for ESOL services waitlist
Transportation
• $400 million for MBTA Workforce and Safety Reserve
• $300 million for MBTA Deficiency Fund
• $60 million for MBTA physical infrastructure
• $25 million for MTTF Transfer RTA Workforce Development
• $20 million for reduced MBTA fares for riders with low incomes
• $13 million for MBTA Sumner Tunnel reimbursement
• $10 million for unpaved roads
Additional Investments
• $58 million from the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) Investment Fund for payment of additional reimbursements in FY25
• $5 million for the Holocaust Museum Boston
This supplemental budget also tasks the Inspector General with publishing a report on best practices for providing transportation services, including the procurement of those services, to help contain ever-increasing costs to cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth.
The bill passed the House of Representatives 140-14. It now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
