Money will fund intersection improvements, RMHS equipment purchases
BOSTON – House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn) secured preliminary approval this week for $100,000 in funding earmarks for the town of Reading as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 House budget proposal.
Jones and Haggerty successfully advocated for $50,000 in state funding to assist Reading with carrying out townwide traffic intersection improvements. They also secured a $50,000 earmark for Reading Memorial High School for equipment purchases to aid student learning.
Both Reading earmarks were approved as part of a consolidated economic development budget amendment that passed the House of Representatives on a vote of 154-3 on April 30. The House engrossed its $61.47 billion state budget proposal later that same day on a vote of 151-6.
“Pedestrian safety is always a concern throughout the community, which is why funding traffic intersection improvements is critical to help make Reading’s roads safer for all,” said Representative Jones. “Reading Memorial High School students will also benefit from the purchase of equipment such as music and lab equipment to help enhance their educational experiences. Representative Haggerty and I worked together to advocate for these two important funding initiatives on Reading’s behalf, and we will do everything we can to see this funding is retained in the final budget.”
“It’s important to continue investing in the safety of our roadways and the quality of education for our students,” said Representative Haggerty. “The funding for traffic intersection improvements will help create safer roadways for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists throughout town, including a smart traffic light system at the intersection of South and West Street, while the resources for Reading Memorial High School will provide students with modern equipment that will enhance their learning experience. 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.”
The budget process now moves to the Senate, which is scheduled to debate its own Fiscal Year 2026 spending plan the week of May 19. Once the Senate budget is passed, a six-member House and Senate conference committee will be appointed to negotiate the differences between the two proposals and produce a final budget that will be sent to Governor Maura Healey for her review and signature.
