For Immediate Release: 8-10-23 

Contact: Peter Jasinski | peter.jasinski@masenate.gov 

BOSTON – On Wednesday, Gov. Healey signed a $56 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), which will bring $156 million into the communities of the Norfolk & Plymouth District, following a July 31 approval by the Legislature.  

“After much planning and deliberation, we have a spending plan for the next fiscal year that will address the current needs of our Commonwealth and our municipalities and help them plan better for the future,” said Sen. John F. Keenan. “We are seeing marked increases in local funding for public schools and government aid for public safety, seniors, veterans, public works, and libraries over the previous fiscal year. Additionally, we are funding new projects in the communities of Abington, Braintree, Hanover, Holbrook, Quincy, and Rockland, as well as regional initiatives.”    

The FY24 budget includes a total of $56.2 billion in spending, a nearly $4 billion increase over the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Budget. This spending recommendation is based on FY24 tax revenues growing an estimated 1.6 percent with an additional $1 billion from the new Fair Share surtax, as agreed upon during the consensus revenue process in January. 

The FY24 budget allocated a record total of $39,476,201 in unrestricted governmental aid and $116,821,389 in funding for public schools for the communities of Abington, Braintree, Hanover, Holbrook, Quincy, and Rockland.  

Each community will receive the following amounts:  

Abington 

  • UGGA $2,351,673 
  • Chap 70 School Aid $14,183,120 

Braintree

  • UGGA $6,840,770 
  • Chap 70 School Aid $20,652,576 

Hanover

  • UGGA $2,532,409 
  • Chap 70 School Aid $7,458,443 

Holbrook

  • UGGA $1,763,904 
  • Chap 70 School Aid $10,881,907 

Quincy

  • UGGA $22,827,125 
  • Chap 70 School Aid $45,107,807 

Rockland

  • UGGA $3,160,320 
  • Chap 70 School Aid $18,537,536 

In addition to advocating for increases in local government and public school funding, Sen. Keenan filed a variety of amendments to address issues and support programs specific to the Norfolk & Plymouth District, including: 

  • $50,000 to help increase patient access at Manet Community Health Center in Quincy  
  • $50,000 upgrade the Quincy Fire Department’s emergency communications equipment  
  • $5,000 for the Quincy Multicultural Festival 
  • $100,000 to be shared by Quincy, Dorchester, and Milton to help with costs associated with preserving the Neponset River Watershed’s estuary and protecting its native marine life 
  • $11,000 for new early-learning computers at the Holbrook Public Library  
  • $80,000 for the VFW Drive and Weymouth Street corridor improvement project in Rockland 
  • $95,000 to make naloxone readily available at all Red Line Stations, including those located in Quincy and Braintree  
  • $115,000 for elder care services in the communities of Abington, Braintree, Hanover, Holbrook, and Rockland. 
  • $1 million increase in funding for supportive housing for individuals in recovery 
  • $500,000 for the Commonwealth’s tobacco cessation program to help municipal boards of health enforce Massachusetts’ flavored tobacco ban 
  • $500,000 increase in funding for treating problem gambling and studying the effects of compulsive gambling.  

Sen. Keenan also collaborated with Senators Michael Brady, Susan Moran, Patrick O’Connor, and Walter F. Timilty to secure $100,000 for Plymouth County Fire Chiefs Association to pay for emergency communications systems as well as mass casualty training.