Winchester Delegation Secures $200,000 for Local Priorities in State Budget

BOSTON—State Representatives Michael S. Day and Michelle Ciccolo and State Senators Jason Lewis and Pat Jehlen are pleased to announce the passage of the state’s budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27).

Funded at $63.4 billion, the budget raises no taxes and adds $51 million to the state’s “Rainy Day” Stabilization Fund. The FY27 budget builds on the Commonwealth’s fiscal responsibility practices while delivering significant levels of investment in public education, local aid, housing production, healthcare, and protections for vulnerable residents against the impact of ongoing and increased federal cuts. Working together, the Winchester delegation secured $200,000 in direct appropriations for local priorities.

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Representative Day filed earmarks in the House’s version of the budget with the advocacy of Representative Ciccolo, securing $150,000 for first responder dispatch communication upgrades and $50,000 for literacy programming in the Winchester Public Schools. With the advocacy of Senator Lewis and Senator Jehlen in the state Senate, these earmarks were included in the final FY27 state budget recently signed by Governor Maura Healey.

The legislature also allocated $12 million to support Winchester Public Schools through Chapter 70 funding and $2 million of Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) for Winchester to use as they see fit in their general budget to defray municipal costs.

“I’m proud that this budget delivers critical funding to our public schools and communities, reconvenes the Foundation Budget Review Commission to investigate new ways to ensure adequate and equitable funding for all school districts, and makes our state more affordable for working families with significant investments in housing, healthcare, and childcare,” said Senator Jason Lewis. “I’m especially pleased that Sen. Jehlen, Rep. Day, Rep. Ciccolo, and I were able to secure funding for public safety and early literacy programming in Winchester.”

“In the face of sweeping budget cuts at the federal level, this budget builds on our Commonwealth’s commitment to investing in programs that continue to make our state the healthiest, most educated and safest place to call home,” said Representative Michael S. Day. “I appreciate the support of my colleagues in the House and Senate who recognized the importance of increasing state aid to Winchester and supporting investments to enhance public safety and education for our Town.”

“I am so glad to see improvements in local aid for Winchester,” said Senator Patricia Jehlen. “I continue to support re-examining the formulas for local aid such as Ch.70, Ch.90 and UGGA.”

“I applaud my colleagues for their diligent work in crafting a budget that balances our fiscal realities with the need to preserve essential services for residents across the Commonwealth,” said Representative Michele Ciccolo. “I was proud to support earmarks to ensure top local priorities received funding.”

Other investments include:

• The legislature fulfilling its commitment to fully fund and implement the Student Opportunity Act by providing $7.66 billion in Chapter 70 aid to public school districts, an increase of $297 million over Fiscal Year 2026 and the highest level ever, along with a record $160-per-pupil minimum in local school aid.
• Reconvening the Foundation Budget Review Commission to examine the K-12 public school funding formula and assess how the state can better support municipalities by addressing rising costs in special education, student transportation, personnel, and healthcare.
• Allocating $654.6 million for the Special Education (SPED) Circuit Breaker program. Combined with $152 million from the recent Fair Share Supplemental Budget, the state will now invest a total of $806.6 million to this funding stream, reimbursing 75% of eligible tuition and transportation costs to municipalities.
• Extending the ConnectorCare expansion pilot program through 2027. Since 2024, the pilot has helped more than 115,000 residents access more affordable health insurance through lower premiums, no deductibles and reduced co-pays.
• Prioritizing affordable housing and fiscal sustainability, with investments of over $1.15 billion in housing initiatives, including funding for housing stability, residential assistance, emergency shelters and homelessness support programs.
• Supporting cities and towns across the Commonwealth through $1.363 billion in Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), a $40 million increase over Fiscal Year 2026 and the highest level ever. The budget also implements a new funding formula to distribute the additional funding more equitably across all 351 Massachusetts communities.
• Dedicating $56.2 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program to enhance support for food banks and help combat hunger.

The House of Representatives and state Senate together passed the FY27 state budget on July 1, 2026, and Governor Maura Healey signed it into law without any vetoes or amendment on July 9, 2026.