For immediate release: 6/20/2025

Contact: Aidan Murphy | aidan.murphy@masenate.gov

(BOSTON—6/20/2025) The Massachusetts Legislature approved $1.39 billion in new investments in public transportation and public education across the Commonwealth. The supplemental budget—funded by surplus revenue from the Fair Share surtax on incomes over $1 million, allocates $716 million for transportation and $593.5 million for education at every level. 

To allocate the surplus, this supplemental budget makes significant investments in the MBTA, Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs), water transportation, roads, and bridges—with the goal of advancing affordable, safe, and reliable transit for all residents. It also provides critical support for public colleges and universities, expands vocational education programs, and strengthens services for students with disabilities. 

“Ensuring that every Massachusetts resident has access to a safe and reliable public transportation system, and that every student in the Commonwealth receives a high-quality education, are two of the most fundamental responsibilities that we have as elected officials. The investments being made in this supplemental budget are representative of the Legislature’s continued focus on meeting those responsibilities,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz and my colleagues in the House, as well as our partners in the Senate, for working diligently to get this vital funding to the Governor’s desk for her signature. The House looks forward to building on these investments, and to continuing to deliver improvements to the Commonwealth’s most fundamental institutions and services.” 

“No matter where you live in Massachusetts, you deserve reliable transportation and an education that opens doors of opportunities,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “This funding moves us closer to a Commonwealth where everyone has access to both. At a time when the federal government’s commitment to safe transit and strong public education is in doubt, this legislation invests directly in local communities, our school systems, and infrastructure projects that keep Massachusetts moving forward. I’m grateful to Chair Rodrigues, Vice Chair Comerford, Senator O’Connor, our Senate colleagues, and our partners in the House for advancing this critical legislation. I look forward to seeing the impact of these investments in communities across the state.” 

“This supplemental budget provides assistance from the Commonwealth to meet some of Quincy’s critical educational and transportation needs,” said Senator John F. Keenan (D-Quincy). “The $360,000 in earmarked funds, obtained in partnership with the House delegation, and the chance to win additional support for Quincy ferry services, will improve economic opportunities for our community.” 

“This supplemental budget makes critical investments in our public education system and transportation network, expanding professional opportunities and enhancing quality of life for residents across Massachusetts,” said Representative Bruce J. Ayers (D-Quincy). “This includes an important financial investment of $180,000 allocated for capital and planning improvements to Quincy Public Schools, as well as $13 million in statewide funding for ferry infrastructure improvements, which will strengthen water transportation services that are essential to coastal communities like Quincy.” 

“With increasing concerns over federal support being withdrawn, we are fortunate here in Massachusetts to have this one-time surplus from the ‘fair share amendment’,” said Representative Tackey Chan (D-Quincy). “This funding will support key transportation and education projects. In particular, using some of these funds to address the MBTA structural deficit in its budget will help maintain an essential service and ensure continued, equitable access to public transit, regardless of income.” 

The supplemental budget passed is a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the bill. It utilizes estimated revenues generated from the Fair Share ballot initiative approved by voters in November 2022, which established a new surtax of four percent on annual income above $1 million to improve the state’s education and transportation sectors. It also utilizes one-time revenues from the Student Opportunity Act Investment Fund and the Transitional Escrow Fund. 

Key Transportation Investments 

MBTA Upgrades. $535 million for improvements and infrastructure upgrades across the MBTA system, including: 

  • $300 million to support the MBTA budget reserve. 
  • $175 million in workforce and safety funding to implement improvements recommended by the Federal Transit Administration. 
  • $40 million for MBTA physical infrastructure upgrades. 
  • $20 million for the MBTA’s low-income fare relief program. 

Aid For Cities and Towns. $103 million for regionally equitable, shovel-ready transportation improvements, including: 

  • $80 million for supplemental Chapter 90 aid to ensure every city and town receives funding to maintain local roads and bridges, including $40 million to help support small and rural communities by distributing funds based solely on road mileage. 
  • $16.4 million for municipally owned small bridges and culverts. 
  • $7 million for the improvement and maintenance of unpaved roads. 

Regional Equity in Transportation. $73 million for regional transit initiatives, specifically: 

  • $25 million for capital improvements to equipment and facilities at Regional Transit Authorities, which serve and connect all regions of the Commonwealth. 
  • $25 million for efforts to improve workforce recruitment and retention at the Regional Transit Authorities. 
  • $13 million for public ferry infrastructure improvements. 
  • $10 million for on-demand micro-transit shuttles and Last Mile grants fostering an innovative multimodal transit system. 

Key Education Investments 

Special Education. $248 million for special education costs, including Circuit Breaker reimbursements to local school districts. 

Public Higher Education Deferred Maintenance. $115 million for public higher education infrastructure investments, including $10 million for lab modernization capital improvements and upgrades at community colleges, helping ensure community colleges have the needed resources to provide a first-class education to the surge of students signing up after passage of MassEducate, which provides free community college to Massachusetts residents. 

Career Technical Education Capital Grants. $100 million to expand capacity and accommodate additional career technical education school opportunities, including $15 million for a pilot program to support career and vocational technical annex buildings on comprehensive high school campuses. 

EEC Workforce, Affordability, and Quality Improvement. $45 million for initiatives to support workforce development, affordability and quality improvements in the early education and care sector, including $20 million for rate increases to support early education providers. 

Literacy Growth. $25 million for high dosage tutoring to support accelerated literacy growth and success for students in kindergarten through grade 3. 

Endowment Match. $20 million for the endowment incentive match program to leverage public funds to encourage private fundraising by the state’s public higher education institutions to support accessible and affordable education programming, including $10 million for a Department of Higher Education (DHE) endowment incentive match and $10 million for the University of Massachusetts endowment incentive program. 

English Language Learning Programs. $10 million for educational grants to help speakers of languages other than English to learn English—and subsequently aid in filling in-demand jobs—by reducing the waitlist for services. 

Green SchoolWorks. $10 million for grants to eligible local school districts for clean energy infrastructure improvements and upgrades. 

Tomorrow’s Teachers Scholarship and Loan Forgiveness. $2.475 million for scholarships and loan forgiveness initiatives to encourage qualified high school and current college students to seek teaching in the Massachusetts public school system as a career pathway. 

Having passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, the bill now goes to the Governor for her signature.