Reading To Receive Nearly $420K Under State Spending Bill

READING, MA — Reading is in line for $175,000 for local projects under a $1.56 billion supplemental spending bill approved by the Massachusetts House and Senate and now awaiting Gov. Maura Healey’s signature.

The funding package includes $25,000 for the Reading Council on Aging to purchase a passenger van or bus for senior transportation services, $50,000 for maintenance and repairs to local transportation infrastructure, and $100,000 for materials, equipment and capital improvements in Reading Public Schools.

The legislation was approved by both chambers on June 4 and would distribute $1.35 billion in Fair Share surtax revenue along with $207 million from the state’s General Fund for education- and transportation-related initiatives.

In addition to the project funding, Reading could receive an estimated $244,973 through a statewide $80 million winter recovery program for cities and towns. The money is intended to help communities cover costs related to snow plowing, road treatment and salting, icebreaking, flooding, road reconstruction and resurfacing, tree damage repairs, and other winter weather expenses.

“Our cities and towns have been facing extraordinary challenges trying to repair and maintain local roadways after a very tough winter, and this additional funding will go a long way towards relieving some of the financial burdens communities are facing,” State Rep. Bradley Jones Jr. (R-North Reading).

The funding would be distributed based on a formula tied to each community’s total road mileage, with final allocations still being calculated by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

The bill also sets aside an additional $20 million for communities that experienced unusually high winter weather costs. State transportation officials will determine which municipalities qualify for that funding.

Gov. Healey has until June 14 to sign the bill into law.