Governor Healey proposed $1.3 billion in Fair Share funding for MBTA, regional transit, pre-k access, early literacy, special education, career tech programs

Boston - The Healey-Driscoll Administration today testified in support of Governor Maura Healey’s Fiscal Year 2024 Fair Share Surplus Supplemental Budget, which proposes historic investments in education and transportation. The $1.3 billion proposal would support the MBTA, regional transit, pre-k access, early literacy, special education and career technical programs across the state.

“Our administration is committed to improving quality of life across the state by improving roads, bridges and public transportation and making sure Massachusetts continues to have the best schools in the nation – from early education to K-12 to higher education,” said Governor Maura Healey. “At a time when the Trump Administration is trying to take us backwards on so many fronts and cancelling essential federal funding left and right, it is so important that Massachusetts stands strong for our communities and makes these investments that will have a positive impact on everyday life. We’re grateful for the Legislature’s careful consideration of our proposal.”

“Our cities and towns deserve the resources to maintain safe roads, improve public transportation, and provide world-class educational opportunities for our students,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “Our Fair Share proposal will ensure that local communities aren’t left to shoulder the costs alone, especially as they are increasingly being abandoned by the federal administration. We are committed to working with our municipal partners to make these investments where they are needed most.”

The combined impact of the Governor’s House 1 budget proposal for FY26 Fair Share revenues and the supplemental budget for surplus Fair Share revenue from FY24 is an approximately 50 percent-50 percent split between Fair Share resources dedicated to transportation and education. 

In January, the Governor unveiled her House 1 proposal and Fair Share supplemental budget, along with her plans to make historic transportation improvements, reform the Chapter 90 program for municipalities, and modernize public higher education campuses through the BRIGHT Act.

“By strategically investing in transportation and education, we are laying the foundation for a more competitive, resilient economy,” said Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz. “Along with our FY26 budget proposal, our supplemental budget bill for FY24 excess Fair Share maintains our commitment to fiscal responsibility while making transformative improvements to systems and infrastructure across Massachusetts. We are grateful for the Legislature's ongoing partnership as we utilize Fair Share funds to strengthen our state for generations to come.”

The Fair Share Surplus Supplemental Budget includes: 

Transportation Investments

• $400 million for the Federal Transit Administration reserve to protect and maximize federal funding.  
• $300 million to replenish the MBTA’s stabilization reserve, ensuring fiscal health and operational stability.
• $67 million to continue the MBTA Income-Eligible Fare Relief Program, providing affordable access for transit for low-income riders.
• $25 million for the Winter Resilience Assistance Program, helping municipalities prepare for and respond to extreme weather. 
• $25 million for the Regional Transit Authority workforce initiatives, including the CDL cost assistance and targeted training to address staffing shortages. 
• $17.5 million to support MassDOT’s workforce and project delivery capacity, ensuring we can deliver on our commitments efficiently and effectively. 
• $10 million for MicroTransit and Last-Mile Innov ation Grants, spurring creative local solutions to transportation access.

“From fixing potholes to expanding public transit, Fair Share funding is making travel safer, more efficient, and more reliable for residents across the Commonwealth,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “This is about improving quality of life, strengthening connections between communities, and ensuring Massachusetts remains a national leader in sustainable transportation.”

Education Investments

• $100 million for early education and care capacity building, family access and affordability, and workforce supports, as well as support for implementation of the Early Education and Child Care Task Force recommendations. 
• $50 million to expand universally accessible, affordable preschool access through the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), enabling current grantees to add more classrooms and affordable seats, as well as allow new communities to join, with a focus on gateway cities and long-term goal for children to have access across all cities and towns.
• $32.5 million for the administration’s “Reimagining High School” initiative, to deepen investments in early college, innovation career pathways, career technical education programs and My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP) planning tool to prepare students to thrive in college or a career when they graduate high school.
• $25 million for an early literacy high dosage tutoring initiative to help accelerate literacy growth for 10,000 students in kindergarten through grade 3, with 1^st graders prioritized, complementing the more systemic, long-term improvement work being supported under Literacy Launch.
• $30 million for Adult Basic Education/English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) literacy services to serve an additional 10,000 learners to address the growing waitlist for ESOL literacy services, launch an ESOL for Work and Career Access Credential and support Digital Literacy Training Services to support students in leveraging technology.
• $75 million to add 3,000 new career technical education (chapter 74 program) seats across comprehensive and career technical education high schools.
• $150 million for the special education circuit breaker to address increased special education and transportation costs for nearly all cities and towns in the state. Together with the Governor’s FY26 budget, special education circuit breaker is funded at $682 million, a 24% increase from last year and full funding of the account.

“These important Fair Share investments – from pre-k access to pathways to higher education – are setting up the foundations for students to realize their dreams. We believe this proposal is the right one to meet this moment, helping our early education and care programs and schools address some of the most pressing equity gaps in education. I want to thank the Legislature for their continued partnership, especially at a time when the federal government is working to dismantle educational access for our most vulnerable students,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration remains committed to ensure Fair Share funding is allocated efficiently and equitably to maximize its impact across the state. As the legislative process continues, the Administration looks forward to working with stakeholders at all levels to deliver these critical investments. 

Statements of Support

Gardner Mayor Mike Nicholson:

“Equitable funding for transportation is essential to ensure economic growth for our Commonwealth and I am happy to support the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s proposal. Investing fair share funding for transportation means creating a strong system, where every community has access to safe transportation options and investments in our aging infrastructure means a more efficient transportation system that moves our state forward.??Transportation connects our residents and visitors to our Commonwealth, impacting almost every aspect of a person’s experience here. Furthering our goals of economic development, education, healthcare, and more all require people to get to where they need to go. This proposal furthers those goals and help strengthen our cities and towns from the street level, up.”

Amy O’Leary, Executive Director, Strategies for Children:

“We applaud Governor Healey’s proposal to invest Fair Share surplus funds to support children, families, educators and communities in Massachusetts. Investments in access and affordability are needed now and are consistent with the recommendations of the Early Education and Child Care Taskforce. These recommendations were informed by listening to the educators, family child care providers, program directors and community leaders across the state. The Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative has a strong track record of local collaboration in the mixed delivery system to plan and implement preschool expansion.?We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Legislature for their continued leadership and commitment to invest in early childhood.”

Kerri Anne Quinlan-Zhou, Superintendent, Bourne Public Schools:?

"We are grateful for the Governor's supplemental budget, which includes $150 million to fund Circuit Breaker at 100% in the FY26 budget. In these challenging financial times, it is essential for school districts to have predictable and stable funding to plan their budgets effectively and prevent staffing and program cuts. This crucial funding ensures that we can continue to provide the necessary resources and support for our students with special needs, allowing them to thrive academically and beyond."??

Tanisha M. Sullivan, Chair, Governor’s Black Empowerment Advisory Council and President, NAACP New England Area Conference:

"Low literacy proficiency is the number one issue we must tackle. To compete, Massachusetts must address access gaps and be a champion for improved literacy. I thank Governor Healey for investing $50 million in her FY26 budget and fair share supplemental budget to expand Literacy Launch and invest in literacy high dosage tutoring. The $25 million for high dosage tutoring will help 10,000 students learn to read and write. This is an urgent issue, and we cannot wait to address our literacy challenges.”

Bob Bardwell, Executive Director, Massachusetts School Counselors Association:

“Massachusetts, along with every other state is faced with a new post high school world for which most of our current high school graduates are not ready.?It is critical that Massachusetts invest in new initiatives and strategies to ensure that our students have the skills necessary for success in order to stay competitive and ahead of the others. Early career planning and engagement is critical to help them plan for their future. This requires that every 6-12 grade student must have an individual learning plan, or MyCAP, here in Massachusetts.?Our students need additional access to more career education initiatives, such as work based learning and job shadowing as well as early college slots and more CTE seats.?Without these additional, targeted and future-focused resources, the students in Massachusetts will be left in the dust to those states that are funding and actively supporting these types of programs at higher levels.?Our students need these resources now, more than ever more.”

Jason Palitsch, Executive Director, 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership: 

“It is critical that our state’s investments in transportation support all regions of the Commonwealth. This legislation includes needed funding for Regional Transit Authorities, last mile connections, and Winter Resiliency for our cities and towns. These resources are important for our communities outside of MBTA bus and subway service areas.”