Rep. Jones Secures $85K in FY25 House Budget for Lynnfield Initiatives

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) recently secured $85,000 in state funding earmarks in the Fiscal Year 2025 House budget to support three Lynnfield initiatives.

During the three-day House budget debate, which took place from April 24-26, Representative Jones successfully advocated for the adoption of three amendments he filed on the town’s behalf seeking funding to support the work of A Healthy Lynnfield, renovations to the Lynnfield Public Library, and preservation work at the historic West Burying Ground and Old Burying Ground. The House engrossed its budget by a vote of 153-4 on April 26.

The largest local earmark, for $35,000, will support substance abuse education and programming offered by A Healthy Lynnfield. Founded in 2017, A Healthy Lynnfield is focused on promoting a healthier and safer community by preventing substance use and providing residents with access to treatment and recovery resources.

The House budget also allocates $25,000 for the Lynnfield Public Library renovation project to help pay for design and development costs. After voters rejected plans to construct a new library at the Fall 2023 Town Meeting, Lynnfield is now focused on renovating the existing library building at 18 Summer Street.

The third earmark, also for $25,000, will support the ongoing preservation efforts being undertaken by the Lynnfield Historical Commission at the West Burying Ground and the Old Burying Ground, which date back to 1813 and 1728, respectively, and include the graves of many local veterans who served our country. Gravestones and markers at both cemeteries are damaged and in need of repairs, and the monuments are old and fragile. In addition to conducting needed repair work, the Lynnfield Historical Commission is focused on developing a perpetual care plan for carrying out ongoing maintenance and oversight work at both sites.

“This year’s budget cycle is taking place against a backdrop of months of declining state revenues, with next year’s budget expected to be even more fiscally challenging,” said Representative Jones. “Our cities and towns are certainly not immune from these trends and are facing the same challenges to balance their municipal budgets, which is why I am pleased to have been able to secure preliminary approval to help fund Lynnfield’s top local priorities in the House budget. I will continue to advocate on the town’s behalf to ensure that these critical earmarks are retained in the final state budget that reaches the Governor’s desk.”

The budget now heads to the Senate, which is expected to debate its own version of the general appropriations bill the week of May 20. The differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget will be worked out by a six-member conference committee, which will produce a final compromise spending plan to send to Governor Maura Healey for her review and signature.