Town could also receive an estimated $245K in winter road relief funding
BOSTON – The House and Senate have reached agreement on a $1.56 billion supplemental spending bill that includes $175,000 in funding for three Reading initiatives while providing $100 million in financial relief to cities and towns to assist with extraordinary snow, ice and winter recovery costs.
The bill contains funding for three local priorities secured by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn), and State Senator Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester), including $25,000 to help the Reading Council on Aging purchase a passenger van or bus to provide shuttle transportation services for local seniors, as well as $50,000 to assist the town with the maintenance and repair of its local transportation infrastructure. The bill also authorizes $100,000 for materials, equipment and capital improvements in the Reading Public Schools.
House Bill 5470 was enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate on June 4 and is now before Governor Maura Healey for her review and signature. The final bill was negotiated by a six-member conference committee that worked to resolve the differences between earlier versions of the legislation previously passed by the House and Senate.
House Bill 5470 allocates $1.35 billion in surplus Fair Share surtax revenues and $207 million from the General Fund to support a variety of education and transportation-related initiatives across the state. Approved by Massachusetts voters as a constitutional amendment in 2022, the Fair Share surtax places an additional 4% surtax on income just over $1.1 million, taxing it at a rate of 9%. The revenue raised is to be used only for education and transportation-related purposes.
Representative Jones, Representative Haggerty and Senator Lewis noted that Reading will benefit from a provision included in the supplemental budget that calls for the distribution of $80 million in funding to all 351 cities and towns to help offset the costs communities incurred last winter for snow plowing; roadway preparation and salting; icebreaking; flooding; the reconstruction and resurfacing of roadways; damage repair from downed trees; and other unanticipated costs attributed to winter weather preparation or recovery. This funding will be distributed using a formula based on a community’s total road mileage, with the final distribution totals still being calculated by MassDOT. It is estimated that Reading could receive approximately $244,973.20 under this proposal, although the final numbers still need to be determined.
House Bill 5470 also sets aside an additional $20 million to be made available to communities that experienced extraordinary weather impact costs compared to other areas of the state during the winter of 2026. The Secretary of Transportation will make the final determination as to which communities will qualify for this funding.
“Our cities and towns have been facing extraordinary challenges trying to repair and maintain local roadways after a very tough winter, and this additional funding will go a long way towards relieving some of the financial burdens communities are facing,” said Representative Jones. “I’m pleased to have been able to work with Representative Haggerty and Senator Lewis to secure funding for Reading’s seniors, students and transportation infrastructure needs.”
“During a time of economic challenges and uncertainty, this supplemental budget makes smart, responsible investments in education and transportation at both the state and local level, while also providing much-needed relief to communities still feeling the financial strain of a difficult winter season,” said Representative Haggerty. “Representative Jones, Senator Lewis and I worked together to secure funding that will benefit our seniors, strengthen our schools, and support transportation infrastructure our community has come to rely on.”
“This bill once again shows the amazing success of the Fair Share Amendment in action,” said Senator Lewis. “The legislature is providing cities and towns with increased funding to support their local budgets, equipping the MBTA with critical operational funds, and sending Reading $175,00 for local projects.”
Governor Healey has until June 14 to sign House Bill 5470 into law.
