Funds will support Reading Public Schools equipment purchases and capital improvements, Town of Reading passenger van purchase
BOSTON – State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn) and State Representative Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) recently secured preliminary approval for $125,000 in earmark funding for the Town of Reading when they joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing the $1.8 billion supplemental budget proposal. The bill invests $417 million in education-related initiatives and $885 million in transportation-related priorities while also funding several Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) deficiencies.
Haggerty and Jones filed two amendments on the town’s behalf during the supplemental budget debate, with the House approving $100,000 to Reading Public Schools for materials, equipment and capital improvements and $25,000 to the Town of Reading to support the purchase of a van for local shuttle service. The House engrossed its supplemental budget by a vote of 150-3 on March 19.
“It’s great to see that our community will directly benefit from this funding, supporting better learning experiences in our public schools through new materials, equipment and capital improvements, as well as supporting the town in purchasing a passenger van to improve local shuttle service, helping people in Reading get where they need to go. I was happy to work alongside Representative Jones in securing this important funding for Reading, but more importantly, we will continue to advocate moving forward to make sure these local earmarks are included in the final budget,” said Representative Haggerty. “More broadly speaking, this supplemental budget gives us a real opportunity to make meaningful investments in transportation and education across the Commonwealth in a smart, responsible way, especially during these challenging and uncertain economic times.”
“The supplemental budget passed by the House makes many important investments in education and transportation-related programs, like the Special Education Circuit Breaker, that will directly assist our cities and towns,” said Representative Jones. “I’m proud to have worked alongside Representative Haggerty on behalf of the town to secure funding for the Reading Public Schools and for the purchase of a van to address local transportation needs. Although this funding is still preliminary, we will continue to advocate for the inclusion of both initiatives in the final supplemental budget that is sent to the governor.”
Other potential local budgetary impact highlights include:
- $150 million for Early Education Childcare (EEC)
- $150 million toward local Special Education Circuit Breaker
- $38.7 million for EEC income eligibility waitlist including:
- $8 million for childcare providers
- $7.5 million for a loan forgiveness program for providers
- $30 million to Municipalities for Highway, Rail and Transit divisions to support capital improvements
- $20 million for Green School Works program to help schools with clean energy upgrades
- $5.1 million for Tomorrow’s Teachers Loan Forgiveness program
The House’s action represents preliminary approval of this supplemental budget, with the Senate now set to take up its own version of the bill. Any differences between the two chambers will be resolved by a six-member conference committee, and the final compromise bill will then be sent to Governor Maura Healey for her review and signature.
