House Appropriates Fair Share Surplus Funds for Education and Transportation

BOSTON - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 -- Representative Mike Connolly joined his Cambridge and Somerville colleagues in the Massachusetts House to pass a $1.3 billion supplemental budget that consists of surplus funds generated from the Fair Share surtax. This supplemental budget includes $353 million for education related investments, and $828 million for transportation related investments.

The supplemental budget passed today includes revenues generated from the Fair Share ballot initiative voters approved in November 2022, which established a new surtax of four percent on annual income above $1 million and invests these new public dollars to improve the state’s education and transportation sectors.

“I’m pleased to say the fair share amendment is working: the wealthiest in our state are contributing more equitably and our schools and transit systems are benefiting with hundreds of millions of dollars of additional funding,” Representative Mike Connolly said. “Of particular interest to my district are over $700 million in much needed funds for the MBTA, including support for the low income fare program, and capital and safety enhancements.”

Key investments include:

Education

  • $190 million for Circuit Breaker reimbursements, which provide financial assistance to public school districts to offset the cost of delivering high-cost special education services to students.
  • $50 million for capital improvements at vocational schools
  • $40 million for early education and care (EEC) workforce, affordability, and quality improvement supports
  • $10 million for universal school meals for every public-school student in the Commonwealth
  • $10 million for DHE Endowment Match
  • $10 million for University of Massachusetts Endowment Match
  • $10 million for Green SchoolWorks to decarbonize and increase efficiency in our schools through green energy projects
  • $8.5 million for ESOL services waitlist

Transportation

  • $400 million for MBTA Workforce and Safety Reserve
  • $300 million for MBTA Deficiency Fund
  • $60 million for MBTA physical infrastructure
  • $25 million for MTTF Transfer RTA Workforce Development
  • $20 million for reduced MBTA fares for riders with low incomes
  • $13 million for MBTA Sumner Tunnel reimbursement
  • $10 million for unpaved roads

Additional Investments

  • $58 million from the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) Investment Fund for payment of additional reimbursements in FY25
  • $5 million for the Holocaust Museum Boston

This supplemental budget also tasks the Inspector General with publishing a report on best practices for providing transportation services, including the procurement of those services, to help contain ever-increasing costs to cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth.

The bill passed the House of Representatives 140-14. It now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

 

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