Senate Democrats launched a $1.3 billion spending invoice Thursday that makes use of surplus {dollars} generated by an revenue surtax to pay for schooling and transportation initiatives, however marks a big departure from a proposal that cleared the Home final month.
The supplemental price range that senators are anticipated to vote on subsequent week comes throughout a busy time on Beacon Hill, as lawmakers corral the fiscal 12 months 2026 price range and cope with federal funding uncertainty spurred by the Trump administration.
The Senate’s surtax spending invoice proposes shuttling $613 million to schooling initiatives and $670 million to transportation initiatives, in comparison with the Home’s plan that sends $828 million to transportation and $353 million to schooling.
Senate price range chief Michael Rodrigues stated he wished to “maintain as close to a 50-50 split as possible between education and transportation,” the 2 classes lawmakers are required to spend money on from the voter-approved regulation often known as the millionaire’s tax or “Fair Share Amendment.”
“There are some serious concerns, especially from our local school districts, around SPED — special education cost increases — and about the need to provide the ability for increased career technical initiative programs both at our vocational schools and comprehensive high schools,” the Westport Democrat advised reporters. “We thought this was a very good split.”
Cash from the 4% surtax on incomes over $1 million has served as a boon to lawmakers over the previous a number of years because the state skilled less-than-ideal income hauls and federal funding cuts.
Massachusetts expects to gather $2.4 billion in income from the surtax in fiscal 12 months 2026, or barely greater than the $2.2 billion the voter-approved regulation introduced in fiscal 12 months 2024, based on Gov. Maura Healey’s administration.
Senate Democrats included $370 million for the MBTA within the supplemental spending invoice, far lower than the greater than $700 million the Home wrote in. The Senate’s model of the spending plan additionally contains $248 million for particular schooling prices.
Rodrigues stated the spending invoice options one other $5 million for transportation and visitors security issues associated to the FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to host seven video games at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
“There’s going to be an impact on public transportation to and from Gillette Stadium unlike anything they’ve seen before,” he stated. “This isn’t just a Patriots game. These are World Cup matches. These are going to be intended by fans from around the world, many from Europe, who are accustomed to a much more robust public transportation system.”
