Funding is included in supplemental budget supporting education and transportation-related initiatives
BOSTON – 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) secured $100,000 in state funding assistance for the Reading Public Schools as part of a $1.39 billion supplemental spending bill that provides funding for education and transportation-related initiatives.
House Bill 4227, which is funded primarily through surplus revenues generated by the voter-approved Fair Share surtax on incomes over $1 million, was enacted by the Legislature on June 18, and is now on Governor Maura Healey’s desk for her review and signature. The bill reflects a compromise agreement between earlier versions of the bill passed by the House and the Senate.
The $100,000 secured by Reading’s State House delegation will be made available to support “materials, equipment and capital improvements” for the Reading Public Schools.
“This earmark language provides flexibility to the Reading Public Schools so the money can be directed where the needs are greatest and where it will be most effective in improving students’ educational experiences,” said Representative Jones. “I’m pleased to have worked closely alongside Representative Haggerty and Senator Lewis to advocate for this funding on behalf of the town.”
“This funding will allow the Reading Public Schools to use this money in a variety of areas of need, leading to a better educational experience for the students,” said Representative Haggerty. “I was happy to work with Representative Jones and Senator Lewis in securing this funding on the town’s behalf.”
“I am proud to have been the lead Senate sponsor of the Fair Share Amendment. With this revenue from the state’s highest earners, we can make additional investments in the high-quality public schools and transportation infrastructure that help make Massachusetts a top-ranking state to live in and raise a family,” said Senator Lewis. “These Fair Share dollars will be especially helpful now when so many municipalities and school districts are facing severe fiscal challenges.”
Jones, Haggerty and Lewis noted that the Legislature is constitutionally required to utilize Fair Share revenues strictly for education and transportation purposes. The supplemental spending bill includes $716 million for transportation-related initiatives and $593.5 million for education-related programs.
While a majority of the transportation funding ($535 million) will go to the MBTA, House Bill 4227 also sets aside $103 million in transportation-related funding that will directly assist cities and towns, including $80 million in supplemental local road funding, half of which is directed at small and rural communities. Another $16.4 million is included in the bill to help communities pay for the repair of municipally owned small bridges and culverts, along with $7 million for maintaining unpaved roads.
According to the State House delegation, the education funding component of the supplemental budget includes $248 million that will be made available to school districts in the form of special education circuit breaker reimbursements. Of this total, $190 million is funded through the surtax and will be used to support Fiscal Year 2026 reimbursement payments for costs incurred in Fiscal Year 2025. The remaining $58 million will be funded through the Student Opportunity Act Investment Fund.
Another $100 million is allocated in the bill for grants to build capacity for additional career technical education school opportunities across the state. Of this total, $35 million will be made available to comprehensive high schools and $15 million set aside for a pilot program for comprehensive high schools to support career and vocational technical annex buildings on their campuses.
Governor Healey has until June 28 to sign House Bill 4227 into law.
