Lowell – Last Thursday, the Massachusetts State Senate passed the final version of its Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget. The Senate version of the budget includes multiple amendments filed by State Senator Ed Kennedy. Following a robust, spirited, and engaging debate process, the Senate approved 478 amendments, adding $82.2 million in spending to the budget. Thirteen of the approved amendments were filed by State Senator Ed Kennedy.
Commenting on budget process, Senator Ed Kennedy said, “I think every member of the State Senate is proud of the 2024 Fiscal Year state budget which includes significant and impactful investments in education, housing, health care, mental health care and transportation. I am very happy that this budget includes a 90% reimbursement in regional school transportation costs and $100 million for communities and school districts that were negatively impacted by post-COVID inflationary pressures”.
Kennedy went on to commend Senate President Karen Spilka, and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues for “their leadership during the budget process”, and his colleagues in the State Senate for “their significant input in crafting the 2024 Fiscal Year senate budget.”
The thirteen approved amendments 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
$175,000 – FORGE Merrimack Valley
$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
$ 40,000 – Girls, Inc.- Eureka & SMART Programs
$ 20,000 – Merrimack Repertory Theatre -Lowell
$ 20,000 – Dwelling House of Hope – Lowell
In addition, Senator Ed Kennedy filed a corrective amendment allowing the Town of Pepperell to locate the proposed food hub at any location in Pepperell.
Both chambers, having passed independent versions of the FY24 budget, will convene a conference committee to reconcile the differences between the two documents.
