BOSTON – The Massachusetts Legislature approved a $1.35 billion package funded by the Fair Share Amendment funds, including $558 million toward education and $794 million for fixing roads, rail, and transit.
The $558 million for education includes $152 million for special education reimbursement and $159 for making childcare more affordable. The bill also allocates $40 million for reading programs for young readers and $20 million for tutoring.
The $794 million for transportation includes $595 million for the MBTA, including $450 million for the T. It also includes $60 million for maintenance and upgrades physical infrastructure with an emphasis on commuter rail improvements, $50.4 million to improve workforce and safety, $20 million to make fares more affordable for low-income riders, and $15 million for water transportation infrastructure across the state.
The bill also added a new tax exemption on building materials used in the construction of affordable, moderate-income, and middle-income housing projects.
Image Credit: Hsin Ju HSU, Massachusetts Statehouse, CC BY-SA 3.0
