Representative Jones Secures $80,000 For Lynnfield Projects

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has secured $80,000 in state funding earmarks for the Town of Lynnfield as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 House budget that was engrossed on April 26.

The House approved amendments filed by Jones for two local initiatives, including $50,000 for the Lynnfield war memorial project and $30,000 for upgrades to the outdoor basketball courts at Lynnfield High School. The House’s action represents preliminary approval of the funding, as both earmarks must still be agreed to by the Senate and signed by Governor Maura Healey before the money can be released to the town.

This is the third consecutive year that Jones has secured funding for the town’s war memorial in the House budget. Both the Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2023 budgets included $50,000 earmarks he requested for this project, which calls for the construction of a new monument on the green space adjacent to South Common Street, across from the Town Common and near Lynnfield’s existing veterans memorial.

The planned war memorial will highlight America’s major wars from the Revolutionary War to the present day and will include the names of every Lynnfield man and woman who served in those wars. Town officials envision the new memorial as an opportunity to not only recognize local residents who have served in the military, but also to help educate visitors about Lynnfield’s history.

“I’m pleased to once again be able to deliver funding to Lynnfield to support the town’s ongoing efforts to honor its local veterans for their sacrifices and service to our nation,” said Representative Jones. “I’m also happy to be able to secure additional funding for improvements to the outdoor basketball courts at Lynnfield High School and will continue to advocate for both projects to ensure that this funding is retained in the final budget.”

The budget now heads to the Senate, which is expected to begin debating its own spending proposal the week prior to Memorial Day. The differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget will then be resolved by a joint conference committee, which will produce a final spending plan to send to Governor Healey.