On June 30, the Massachusetts state legislature passed, almost unanimously, a $61 billion state budget for FY2026. This budget and the Fair Share supplemental budget together contain $1,773,000 in earmarks for Newton, sponsored by members of Newton’s state delegation.
Not since the FY2017 budget has the legislature completed the state budget before the start of the new fiscal year, on July 1. The budget has been sent to Gov. Maura Healey for her approval, veto, or partial veto within ten days.
[UPDATE] Gov. Healey has put all state budget local earmarks on hold until this fall at the earliest, as she wants to see how fiscal conditions evolve. She stated in her signing letter:
“Balancing the importance to communities and non-profits of local earmarks against state fiscal pressures by holding off on funding earmarks until later this Fall when we have a better appreciation for its affordability in light of federal budget outcomes and early-year tax collections.”
Sen. Cynthia Creem
Sen. Cynthia Creem (D-Newton) said, “I’m proud to have helped secure funding in this year’s budget that supports Newton’s priorities — from food security and inclusive housing to student mental health and public safety. These investments reflect the values of our community and will make a real difference in the lives of residents across the city.”
Her office reports $1,025,000 in earmarks for Newton in the FY2026 budget:
- Carroll Center for the Blind: $1,100,000 by the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (not less than $500,000 of which for the Carroll Center for the Blind) to maximize the independent living skills of legally blind residents of the Commonwealth through rehabilitation programs, housing assistance services, adjustment counseling services and the provision of accessible devices, assistive software and equipment and supportive technology training provided by qualified nonprofit providers in community, residential, virtual and facility-based settings
- Security personnel for nonprofits: $200,000 for the nonprofit security personnel program, which assists nonprofits at risk of hate crimes, including religious institutions, in hiring security
- Pathway to Possible: $90,000 to Pathway to Possible, Inc. in the city of Newton to provide housing, support and advocacy for people with cognitive and developmental disabilities
- Nourishing Newton: $65,000 to the Charles River Regional Chamber, Inc. to provide grants, to independent restaurants located in the city of Newton to supply prepared meals and other food products to food banks serving Newton, senior programs and other programs addressing food insecurity needs of individuals in Newton
- Welcome Home: $55,000 for Welcome Home, Inc. in the city of Newton for its home goods pantry
- Newton At Home: $45,000 for Newton At Home, Inc. to provide financial assistance to qualifying Conference Committee Report seniors in the city of Newton
- Historic Newton: $45,000 to Historic Newton, Inc. to upgrade and develop exhibits that educate the public on local history
- Zamir Chorale: $25,000 for Zamir Chorale of Boston, Inc. to support its musical and educational programming for the public
In addition, Sen. Creem’s office reports $378,000 in earmarks for Newton in the Fair Share supplemental budget:
- Mental Health Programming and Data Literacy Training in Newton Public Schools: $253,000 to the City of Newton for 1-time startup costs for the implementation of mental health programming at Newton North and Newton South High Schools and for 1-time startup costs associated with data literacy training to assist Newton Public School teachers in designing interventions for students with identified skill deficits
- Bike Lanes and Bike Paths: $75,000 to the City of Newton for the purchase of specialized equipment to effectively maintain the city’s bike lane and bike path network on a year-round basis
- LigerBots: $50,000 to The Liger Alliance, a non-profit organization that supports robotics education at Newton North and Newton South high schools, for the purchase of equipment to be used by Newton North and Newton South High School students participating in robotics education programming
Rep. John Lawn
Rep. John Lawn (10th Middlesex) has not responded to Fig City News‘s inquiry on this topic, but the Conference Report for the budget includes these earmarks for Newton in his district:
- American Legion Post 440: $100,000 for capital improvements of the American Legion Post 440 in the Nonantum neighborhood of the city of Newton
- Street trees in northeast Newton: $50,000 to the city of Newton urban forestry division to plant new street trees in the northeast corner of the city
- Pellegrini Park: $50,000 for improvements to Pellegrini park in the Nonantum neighborhood of the city of Newton, including improvements to the tot lot at Pellegrini park fieldhouse
Rep. Amy Sangiolo
Rep. Amy Sangiolo (11th Middlesex) reports $80,000 in earmarks for Newton:
- John M. Barry Newton Boys and Girls Club: $50,000 for renovations and programming at the John M. Barry Newton Boys and Girls Club
- RRFB Pedestrian Warning Signals: $15,000 to install 2 rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at uncontrolled, marked crosswalks to accompany a pedestrian warning sign in the city of Newton
- New Art Center: $15,000 to fund architectural plans to renovate and expand the New Art Center in Newtonville for a space to serve as a multi-disciplinary visual arts center and enable the facility to become fully ADA compliant
Rep. Greg Schwartz
Rep. Greg Schwartz (12th Middlesex) reports $90,000 in earmarks for Newton:
- Kennard Conservation Area trail: $50,000 for the Kennard Conservation Area trail improvements, including boardwalks in wet areas, in the city of Newton
- Mosaic Interfaith youth: $25,000 on (Newton-based) Mosaic Interfaith Youth Action, Inc. a grant program administered through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in coordination with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for the purpose of preventing hate crimes and incidents statewide
- Newton Upper Falls Community Development Corporation: $15,000 for the Newton Upper Falls Community Development Corporation
Ed. Note: We have updated this article to include Newton-related earmarks in Rep. John Lawn’s district, bringing the total of earmarks for Newton to $1,773,000. We have also updated this article to include information about the Governor putting earmarks on hold until the fall.
