This week, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a $1.39 billion supplemental budget funded by the Fair Share surtax that represents $716 million of funding for public transportation and $593.5 million for public education across the Commonwealth. Senator Dylan Fernandes worked successfully to secure $750k in targeted investments that will directly benefit communities across the Cape and South Shore.
“Our region faces unique challenges in transportation and education, and this funding is crucial to expanding opportunities for our students and improving mobility for residents across Cape Cod and the South Shore,” said Senator Dylan Fernandes. “As the federal government reduces resources for our communities, the money we secured in this budget will have an even greater impact, strengthening the everyday experiences of residents throughout the Cape and Plymouth communities.”
Fair Share Budget Investments Secured by Senator Fernandes
● $25,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod
● $25,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Plymouth
● $25,000 to the Plymouth Center for Active Living
● $25,000 to Plymouth Family Network
● $25,000 to fund a study to expand commuter rail to Buzzards Bay
● $30,000 for the Town of Sandwich through the Cape Cod Foundation
● $35,000 to See Plymouth
● $40,000 to the Pembroke Public Library
● $25,000 to the Pembroke Public Schools
● $40,000 to the South Shore Community Action Council
● $40,000 to Volunteers of America, Massachusetts, Plymouth Area Veterans Center
● $50,000 to the ARC of Plymouth and Upper Cape
● $75,000 to the Silver Lake Regional School District
● $100,000 to the Plymouth Educational Foundation
● $165,000 to Falmouth/Upper Cape YMCA
● $25,000 to Taking People Places/ Plymouth Transportation
Senator Fernandes praised the Senate bill as a transformative funding tool: “This legislation will enhance our local schools and student enrichment, increase transportation access, and expand opportunities across the Plymouth and Barnstable District. I am proud to have worked with the Massachusetts State Senate and the entire Legislature to bring these resources to our region and the Commonwealth.”
Additional Fair Share Budget Investments:
● MBTA Upgrades. $535 million for improvements and infrastructure upgrades across the MBTA system.
● Aid For Cities and Towns. $103 million for regionally equitable, shovel-ready transportation improvements.
● Regional Equity in Transportation. $73 million for regional transit initiatives.
● World Cup Preparations: $5 million for transportation improvements associated with the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
● Special Education. $248 million for special education costs, including Circuit Breaker reimbursements to local school districts.
● Career Technical Education Capital Grants. $100 million to expand capacity and accommodate additional career technical education school opportunities, including $15 million for a pilot program to support career and vocational technical annex buildings on comprehensive high school campuses.
-More-
● EEC Workforce, Affordability, and Quality Improvement. $45 million for initiatives to support workforce development, affordability and quality improvements in the early education and care sector, including $20 million for rate increases to support early education providers.
● Literacy Growth. $25 million for high dosage tutoring to support accelerated literacy growth and success for students in kindergarten through grade 3.
● Endowment Match. $20 million for the endowment incentive match program to leverage public funds to encourage private fundraising by the state’s public higher education institutions to support accessible and affordable education programming, including $10 million for a Department of Higher Education (DHE) endowment incentive match and $10 million for the University of Massachusetts endowment incentive program.
● English Language Learning Programs. $10 million for educational grants to help speakers of languages other than English to learn English—and subsequently aid in filling in-demand jobs—by reducing the waitlist for services.
● Green SchoolWorks. $10 million for grants to eligible local school districts for clean energy infrastructure improvements and upgrades.
● Regional School Transportation. $8.1 million to support regional school transportation costs.
Having passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, the bill now goes to the Governor for her signature.