Yesterday, the Legislature passed the Fiscal Year 24 Budget which will ensure that our commonwealth continues to build towards a more equitable, competitive, healthy, affordable, safe, and bright future for all residents. Thank you to Senate President @senspilka, Chair Michael Rodrigues, and the members of the Ways and Means team for all your work on this budget. I am proud to join my colleagues in delivering this critical funding across the state and back to the 1st Worcester District.
Investing in our regional transit authorities (RTA) to ensure regional equity in public transportation through historic investments:
$94 million in operational funding for the RTAs
$90 million for regional transit funding and grants through the Fair Share Transportation Fund
Working with my colleagues in the House Representatives Kate Donaghue, Meg Kilcoyne, Kate Hogan, and Jim O'Day to ensure increased safety measures for community members and building infrastructure:
$25k to Northborough Reservoir Dam
$35k to Berlin Public Safety Upgrades
$75k to West Boylston Disability Accessibility Upgrades
$50k to Boylston Municipal Police Training Academy
$100k to Bolton Florence Sawyer School Building Complex
Ensuring our children received adequate support:
$350k to Foster Care Psychiatric Consultation Pilot
$250k to the Child Protection Program at UMass Memorial Medical Center
$65k to Together for Kids Coalition
$430k for the court-appointed special advocate program in Worcester County juvenile court
Ensuring our students have access to quality, equitable education:
Univeral Meals for all students
In-state college tuition for undocumented students who have attended a public high school for a minimum of 3 years
$75k for the Worcester Literacy Partnership to support summer reading programs
Supplemental funding for the MSBA to support school construction cost overruns due to COVID, which includes the new Doherty High School
Investing in housing to ensure equitable access to housing support and stabilization:
Increase in funding and addition of project-based vouchers for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) for persons with disabilities
$20k for In the Hour of Need Shelter
Uplifting and supporting culture and diversity by ensuring the opportunity for cultural expression, education and diversity:
$20k to Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association
$20k to Black Heritage Foundation
$300k to Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition
$125k for a virtual senior center for LGBTQIA+ older adults
Investing in community programs:
$100k to Regional Environmental Council, Inc
$65k to Greater Worcester Community Health Improvement Plan
Support for new arrivals:
$100k to Worcester Center for New Americans
$2M in funding for the Office of Refugees and Immigrants, including $1M in flexible funding for community-based organizations and refugee resettlement agencies
For more details, contact: giselle.riveraflores@masenate.gov
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