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As the fiscal year for the Massachusetts state budget comes to a close, Sen. Jason Lewis broke down the upcoming year during a virtual town hall meeting last week.
The budget for fiscal year 2026 is $61.4 billion, up $3 billion from last year’s $58 billion. This modest increase allows more focus on the state’s public education, housing, climate issues, and health care programs.
This budget also allows money to be allocated as “rainy day” funds, a one-time use where federal funding may be cut.
“Most of that increase from last year is for non-discretionary items in the budget,” Lewis told those who attended. “Things like our state’s Medicaid program, school funding or Chapter 70 Program, state employee health insurance, and other fixed costs. Our stabilization fund protects those funds so that if or when we face a true rainy day, like major federal cuts which might be on the horizon, we’re in a position to tap into that fund to prevent big budget cuts.”
The budget was broken down as $7 billion to public education for Pre-K to grade 12. Each school will receive a minimum of $150 per student, a significant benchmark with the half a billion dollar increase compared to last year. This will deal with current inflation, post-pandemic funding gaps, and the rise in special education costs.
The Massachusetts Fair Share Amendment, a 4% tax increase on household income over $1 million, has continued to exceed expectations, Lewis added. Over $3 billion has been generated over the 2025 fiscal year. These funds have made it possible for schools to provide universal free lunch, investments in public higher education, and improvements in public transportation.
Housing affordability was a top issue addressed in the meeting, with Lewis explaining the impacts of recent acts that have been passed to create better housing options in the state.
“It’s been a very high priority for Gov. [Maura] Healey and her administration,” Lewis said. “Last year, we passed what’s known as the Homes Act and that is the biggest investment in housing programs in Massachusetts history. That funding will help to increase production of multifamily housing addressing different price points.
“We’ve also required changes to zoning, the MBTA Communities Act is requiring some changes and updates to zoning to allow for more multi-family housing to be built,” he added. “That is going to contribute to a greater housing stock for both rental and home ownership at different price points and hopefully will start to reverse the trend of the inexorable increase in rent and housing prices in the greater Boston area.”
Lewis urged viewers to keep up with the work within the Senate and Legislature, each can be found at senatorjasonlewis.com and malegislature.gov respectively.
