The Massachusetts Legislature unanimously passed a $52.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2023 on Monday, providing local and regional aid to communities as they recover from the pandemic.
The budget now awaits Gov. Charlie Baker’s signature before becoming law.
In Lynn, significant funding from the FY23 budget includes $150,000 for the operation of Lynn Community Health’s Recuperative Care Center; $150,000 for the Lynn Police Department’s Behavioral Health Unit; $250,000 for Roca, Inc. to provide services to young parents in Lynn; $100,000 for the E-Team Machinist program; $300,000 for Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development; $45,000 for Lynn Museum/LynnArts; and $25,000 for the Lynn YMCA’s youth programming.
“This budget is a reflection of our shared priorities, values, and dedication to improving our
Commonwealth for all of our residents,” said Sen. Brendan Crighton. “I am proud that we were able to come together and make crucial investments in a wide range of key areas in our communities including education, housing, mental health, and much more.”
The budget also includes $50,000 for the cleanup of pilayella algae on King’s Beach and Long Beach; $50,000 for Red Rock Park maintenance; $50,000 for the restoration of the Pine Grove Cemetery Chapel; $25,000 for the Community Brotherhood of Lynn building upgrades; $25,000 for Gannon Golf Course maintenance and operation; and $30,000 for Buchanan Bridge restoration and maintenance.
“With the state collecting higher than projected revenues, coupled with ARPA funds, the Legislature made sure that cities like Lynn received the funding and support that they deserve to address critical community programs and infrastructure projects that we otherwise would not have been able to fund during normal times,” said Rep. Dan Cahill.
This budget provides Nahant with $50,000 for a Department of Public Works parks utility vehicle and another $50,000 for repairs to Council on Aging facilities.
For Lynnfield, this budget provides the town with $75,000 for Jordan Park upgrades; $50,000 for the interior preservation work and kitchen facility upgrades at the Lynnfield Meeting House; and $50,000 to help defray the costs associated with the construction of the town’s new war memorial.
House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. said he and Crighton worked together to advocate on Lynnfield’s behalf for these important local priorities, which “not only will honor the town’s veterans and rich history, but also will provide enhanced recreational opportunities for Lynnfield’s children and other residents.”
“I am pleased that our collective efforts were successful in ensuring that this funding was retained in the final budget,” Jones said.
Budget items for Swampscott include $50,000 for the planning and design of renovations and improvements to open spaces and $30,000 for a Swampscott Police street-legal all-terrain vehicle.
For Saugus, the budget includes $30,000 for the purchase and installation of six street traffic cameras; $50,000 for a public safety radio repeater system for the new school complex; $60,000 for the purchase and installation of security cameras around the public safety building; and $25,000 for a Saugus Fire Department street legal all-terrain vehicle.
Rep. Jessica Ann Giannino said she is grateful for the delegation’s collaboration and work in securing multiple earmarks for the 16th Suffolk District.
“State funding was so desperately needed by the communities within my district, especially Saugus, after emerging from the economic damages caused by the pandemic,” Giannino said. “This much needed funding will help first responders and public safety in the Town of Saugus. I also want to thank my colleague in the House, Representative Wong, for his continued teamwork and support.”
The budget promises to fully fund and implement the Student Opportunity Act (SOA); invests $6 billion in Chapter 70 funding; $1.18 billion into early education and care; more than $1.35 billion in state colleges (including community colleges) and universities; $441 million for the Special Education Circuit Breaker; $82.2 million for regional school transportation; $23 million for homeless student transportation; $16.5 million for grants to maintain access to early education services for low-income families; and $15 million for expanding access to pre-kindergarten and preschool opportunities in underserved areas.
Rep. Peter Capano said the budget prioritizes working families and communities hit hardest by the pandemic by making targeted investments into education, health care, childcare, housing, and workforce development.
The budget also invests $218.2 million for substance use disorder and intervention services provided by the Bureau of Substance Addiction; $113.1 million for children’s mental health services; $28.3 million for Family Resource Centers to grow and improve the mental health resources and programming available to families; $75.3 million for sexual assault and domestic violence prevention services; and $48.8 million for early intervention services.
“Thank you to Speaker Mariano, Chair Michlewitz, and my colleagues in the House and Senate for working together to craft a budget that continues to help our most vulnerable residents while ensuring the Commonwealth’s economy remains strong and resilient,” Capano said.
To assist in the recovery from the pandemic, the budget includes $30.6 million for Emergency Food Assistance; $28.5 million for the YouthWorks jobs program to provide jobs for youth in low-wage-earning and fixed-income families; $3.5 million for the Massachusetts Center on Child Wellbeing and Trauma; and $4.1 million for Children Advocacy Centers to improve the resources available to children who have been neglected or sexually abused.
The FY23 budget also provides resources to help with housing stability, including $219.4 million for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters, more than $200 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), $175 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) and $92 million for assistance to local housing authorities.
In regards to environmental and climate protection, the budget invests $375.2 million for environmental services, including funding increases for state parks, environmental protection, and fisheries and wildlife.
The budget also includes $187 million to fund the MBTA, as well as $226.2 million for a safety and workforce reserve to address ongoing safety concerns identified by the Federal Transit Administration’s Safety Management’s inspection of the transit system.
Allysha Dunnigan can be reached at [email protected].
