Lowell – On Monday, the Massachusetts State Legislature approved the final version of its Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget, bridging the differences between the House and Senate passed earlier this session.
The final FY24 budget includes ten amendments introduced by Senator Ed Kennedy during the Senate budget debate.
The ten approved local initiatives filed by Senator Ed Kennedy include:
- $500,000– Social Enterprise Mattress Recycling Program (A statewide line item through the Department of Environmental Protection)
- $375,000– Catie’s Closet – For Renovations & Improvements at the New Dracut Warehouse
- $250,000– Town of Dunstable – For Repairs to the Joint Grass Brook Culvert
- $ 75,000 – Town of Dracut – To Purchase Equipment for the Department of Public Works
- $ 50,000 – Town of Tyngsborough – Electric Public Safety Vehicle Infrastructure
- $ 35,000 – Town of Pepperell – Affordable Housing Study
- $ 50,000– UMass-Lowell/Middlesex Community College – Regional Biotech Training Facility
- $ 50,000– Girls on the Run – Lowell Middle Schools
- $ 20,000– Dwelling House of Hope
- $ 20,000– Merrimack Repertory Theatre
In addition to the ten local initiatives listed above, Senator Kennedy also filed a corrective amendment allowing the Town of Pepperell to locate their proposed food hub at any location in Pepperell.
Kennedy praised Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues for “their leadership during the budget process.”
The final budget has passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives and has been placed before the Governor for her consideration.
