LYNN — The City Council voted to allocate its first $643,070 allotment from the Commonwealth’s Fair Share Amendment, or “Millionaire’s Tax,” to the Department of Public Works’ Chapter 90 funding for roadway improvements, increasing the department’s annual Chapter 90 funds by roughly 43%.
In November 2022, Massachusetts voters approved a 4% surtax on income above $1 million annually, known as the Fair Share Amendment. Funds raised by this additional tax are dedicated to public-education (Chapter 70 funding) and transportation purposes (Chapter 90 funding) for municipalities across the Commonwealth.
In April 2022, the City Council voted to pass a resolution proposed by Councilor-at-Large Brian LaPierre to support the amendment. After the law went into effect last summer, LaPierre said he’s excited to see the first benefits from the funding.
“We’re now seeing the fruits of that ballot initiative that passed in November of 2022 come to fruition. Now we can repair a bunch more roads when winter breaks or in the spring and summer in addition to our regularly budgeted Chapter 90 line items — I’m excited,” LaPierre said.
LaPierre added that the annual allotments, which the Commonwealth calculates based on the city’s local road mileage, population, and employment rate, will help to improve the city’s roads and schools without any burden to the Lynn taxpayer, since the tax only affects those with an annual income of more than $1 million.
The new stream of Chapter 90 funding, LaPierre said, is “desperately needed” for the city’s public routes and could be used for transportation infrastructure improvements, from the city’s ferry port to repairing potholes on Lynn streets.
“This is at no cost to the Lynn taxpayer. It’s being funded by those who are well-to-do. We have a collective share of the $2 billion that will come into the state when it’s all up and running,” LaPierre said.
The funds will be added to the DPW’s approximately $1.5 million Chapter 90 fund. DPW Commissioner Andrew Hall said the department will prioritize pothole repair, re-striping roads, adding or repairing road signage, and making public ways handicap accessible as it spends the funds.
“We’re super grateful for it,” Hall said. “As anyone driving around the city can see, there’s probably a need for roadway repairs.”
