Sen. Lewis and Rep. Lipper-Garabedian Use Fair Share Revenue to Fund Projects in Wakefield

BOSTON—State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass a $1.56 billion supplemental budget primarily using Fair Share revenue from the state’s wealthiest earners to ease pressure caused by strained local school budgets and invest in education and transportation projects across the state, alongside new policy to lower housing costs and support immigrants.

The delegation was able to include $235,000 specifically allocated for the Town of Wakefield:

• $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Metro North for the continued operation of the INspire Cafe which employs individuals with diverse abilities.
• $50,000 for the pavement resurfacing of North Avenue.
• $50,000 for materials, equipment, and capital improvements for Wakefield Public Schools.
• $35,000 for facility enhancements for a preschool classroom at Greenwood Elementary School.

The legislation increases local reimbursements for special education services, sends significant funding to cities and towns to help with the costs of major winter storms, cuts taxes to jumpstart housing construction, and supports the operation of the MBTA, including the low-income fare relief program.

“This bill once again shows the amazing success of the Fair Share Amendment in action,” said Senator Jason Lewis. “The legislature is providing cities and towns with increased funding to support their local budgets, equipping the MBTA with critical funds, and sending Wakefield $235,000 for local projects.”

“This supplemental budget funded through Fair Share funds provides key investments in education and transportation, including targeted earmarks for Wakefield. This funding will support facility enhancements and renovations of Greenwood Elementary and capital improvements throughout the schools, providing students with enhanced learning spaces. It also includes pavement resurfacing to continue to improve the safety and quality of our local streets and communities,” said Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian. “I’m further pleased to join the legislature in championing statewide investments for our education ecosystem and transportation, including meaningful funding for Early Education and Care, as well as the MBTA.”

State-wide highlights of the supplemental budget include:

• $595 million to the MBTA for operational funding, commuter rail improvements, and the low-income fare relief program.
• $152 million to municipalities to help with the cost of special education services.
• $150 million to support high-quality and accessible early education and care.
• $100 million to help towns and cities recover from an extraordinarily costly winter.
• $40 million for early literacy initiatives.
• $10 million to address Massachusetts’ shrinking primary care workforce through scholarships for UMass Chan Medical School students pursuing family medicine if they commit to remaining in Massachusetts and serving populations in need for five years after graduation.
• $10 million for the Tomorrow's Teachers program to encourage young educators to work in Massachusetts by investing in scholarships and loan forgiveness to educators who commit to teaching in Massachusetts public schools.
• $1 million to help public schools implement bell-to-bell cell-phone free school policies.
• $1 million for free legal defense services for immigrants (allocated from the state’s general funds), following the success of the legislature’s initial $5 million investment that created the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative.
• Incentivizing new affordable, moderate-income, and middle-income housing construction through a new targeted sales tax exemption for building materials in areas with the greatest need, designed to help offset rising costs driven by tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration.
• Encouraging the use of sustainable aviation fuel through a new tax credit to help Massachusetts work toward its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

After passing in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, this legislation was signed into law on June 12, 2026 by Governor Maura Healey.