Rep. Jones Secures $90K in FY25 House Budget for Four NR Initiatives

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) recently secured $90,000 in state funding earmarks in the Fiscal Year 2025 House budget to support several North Reading initiatives.

During the three-day House budget debate, which took place from April 24-26, Representative Jones successfully advocated for the adoption of four amendments he filed on the town’s behalf seeking funding to support the work of the North Reading Community Impact Team, the town’s first responder wellness program, and the North Reading Public Schools. The House engrossed its budget by a vote of 153-4 on April 26.

Included in the proposed House budget is a $25,000 appropriation for North Reading’s first responder wellness program. This marks the second consecutive year that Representative Jones has secured funding for this program, which is offered by the North Reading Police and Fire Departments to provide mental health, fitness and nutrition guidance to all officers, as well as heart health testing for police to help detect the early onset of potential health conditions.

Another $15,000 has been earmarked for the North Reading Community Impact Team (CIT). Established in 2012, the CIT is a collaborative effort between North Reading’s police, fire, youth services, elder services, school, health and parks & recreation departments, as well as the Board of Selectmen, that uses a team approach to address issues of concern to the community. Although its initial focus was on combatting opioid abuse, the CIT’s mission has since expanded to include a variety of issues impacting North Reading residents of all ages to help promote a safer and healthier community.

The proposed House budget for FY25 also funds two initiatives for the North Reading Public Schools (NRPS) at $25,000 apiece, including the phase I upgrade of the NRPS’ intrusion alarm system. It also provides continued funding for the 1:1 school technology initiative to provide North Reading students with Chromebooks that can be used at school and at home.

“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 North Reading’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.