Showing posts with label earmarks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label earmarks. Show all posts

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Senator Rausch Secures $1.1 Million in Local Investments For the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District

On Thursday evening, following deliberation on 1178 amendments, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a $50 billion Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget. Over the course of this week’s budget deliberations, Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham) secured over $1.5 million in statewide funding and $1.1 million for local investments in the Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District, including youth mental health supports, environmental protection initiatives, and municipal infrastructural upgrades. 
 
“This year’s budget prioritized bringing sorely needed relief to Bay Staters,” said Senator Becca Rausch. “We leveraged Massachusetts’ record surplus revenues to make major investments in schools, childcare, workforce development, and housing all while boosting state aid to our cities and towns. The effects these investments will have on our communities will be game-changing, and I am proud to have delivered for the people who sent me to Beacon Hill for a second term.” 

 

The final Senate budget invests heavily in the Commonwealth, including $1.23 billion in state aid to cities and towns; $6 billion in Chapter 70 state funding for public schools, in line with the landmark Student Opportunity Act; bringing Massachusetts’ “rainy day” fund to $6.74 billion; $250 million for pandemic-related grants to support early education and childcare providers; and a policy measure providing legal protections for reproductive and gender-affirming health care providers in Massachusetts. This policy was passed to shield Massachusetts care providers from potential lawsuits over providing abortions and other services to out-of-state residents, a measure necessary if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. 

 

Senator Rausch secured $1,100,000 for local initiatives and municipal projects within her district, including: 

  • $127,000 to fund and implement full-day kindergarten in Wrentham  

  • $600,000 for urgent structural repairs at the Elm Bank Reservation  

  • $5,000 to fund anti-bias curriculum in Franklin Public Schools after an increase in local acts of racism, antisemitism, and homophobia 

  • $10,000 for the annual Franklin Cultural Festival 

  • $8,000 for safety upgrades to the Franklin State Forest  

  • $45,000 for facility upgrades for the Milford Senior Center  

  • $25,000 for backup power generators to ensure the resilience and reliability of the Millis Public Safety Radio system 

  • $30,000 to replace the lighting management system at the Millis Public Library 

  • $50,000 for a feasibility study to improve transportation options in Needham 

  • $25,000 for technological upgrades to study water pollution mitigation in Norfolk 

  • $25,000 to repair and expand the Norfolk Council on Aging parking lot 

  • $25,000 for the operations of North Attleboro’s WWII Memorial Pool 

  • $50,000 towards a new water pumping and treatment station in Plainville 

  • $50,000 to study and improve the water quality of Sherborn's Farm Pond watershed 

  • $25,000 to upgrade lighting in the Wayland High School Fieldhouse 

Senator Rausch also secured 5 statewide amendments, including $1 million to fully fund Hey Sam, a youth mental health support line run by Samaritans, Inc; $200,000 for a statewide pilot car seat recycling program to reduce landfill waste and support Massachusetts families; $92,000 to conduct survey research on COVID vaccinations for children in Massachusetts to determine barriers to access and strategy to close vaccination gaps; and $300,000 for the MA Women's Suffrage Celebration Coalition of Massachusetts to continue their educational programming about women's rights and women’s suffrage.  

 

“It is the biggest honor of my life to serve the towns and cities I represent,” said Senator Rausch. “I am grateful for the partnership of our local community members and municipalities to elevate their needs do a statewide level. When we work together, we succeed.” 

  

The Senate FY ‘23 budget now heads to conference committee to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions. Once complete, the final budget bill will advance to the governor's desk to be signed into law. 

Senator Becca Rausch represents the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District, comprised of Attleboro, Franklin, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Sherborn, Wayland, Wellesley, and Wrentham. Senator Rausch serves as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture and the Senate Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.  

Senator Rausch Secures $1.1 Million in Local Investments For the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District
Senator Rausch Secures $1.1 Million in Local Investments For the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District

Sunday, May 18, 2008

'Franklin received a ``huge amount'' of Chapter 70 aid compared to other towns"

Milford Daily News
Posted May 17, 2008 @ 10:25 PM

FRANKLIN —

The House of Representatives has shot down a $25,000 earmark for the Red Brick School submitted by Rep. James Vallee, he said, but supporters of the school are still ``hoping and praying'' to find a way to keep it open, said Deborah Pellegri.
``We're just hoping and praying the school remains in existence, because it's going to be a shame (if it closes). This is history,'' said Pellegri, the town clerk and a member of the Brick School Task Force.
``The town of Franklin is known for the little Brick School and being home to the first public library, and (being the first town named after) Benjamin Franklin. It would be devastating for the Brick School to be closed - it would be an injustice to the town,'' said Pellegri, noting the Brick School was originally a wooden school building.
Vallee filed an amendment adding $25,000 to the House budget, he said, but members rejected it.
``I think it's a wonderful asset to our community, and I'd like to see it used as a school. I support it,'' Vallee said.
``I tried. I just think the Legislature was reticent to earmark a specific amount of money for a specific school,'' Vallee added.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.


Sunday, April 27, 2008

In the News: artificial turf, wood carving, Vallee, earmarks

GHS
Posted Apr 26, 2008 @ 11:46 PM

When synthetic turf fields soak up sunlight and reach high temperatures, some area officials and local residents believe there is a danger the fields can release chemicals into the air.

Weston Public Health Director Wendy Diotalevi said she has measured temperatures on the surface of Weston's artificial turf field on Wellesley Street at 122 degrees.

Last fall, Wayland resident Tom Sciacca said he measured a temperature of 142 degrees at the Wayland turf field surface.

Those reports prompted officials like Diotalevi, Franklin Facilities Director Mike D'Angelo and Wayland Health Director Steve Calichman to post warning signs at turf fields or consider running more tests on synthetic fields in their towns to see if chemicals are released when the turf heats.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.

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GateHouse News Service
Posted Apr 26, 2008 @ 07:42 PM

Franklin —

In the eyes of Basil LeBlanc, a piece of wood is never simply a piece of wood.

It’s a native warrior sitting with proud posture atop a strong horse.

It’s a majestic buck standing sentinel.

It’s a graceful bird, or a walking cane with butterflies fluttering about the staff.

For LeBlanc, wood is like a blank canvas that requires only his vision, and application of his various hand tools, to realize its artistic potential.

For more than 50 years, says the Franklin resident, woodcarving has been a passion.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

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GHS
Posted Apr 26, 2008 @ 10:00 AM

BOSTON —

One local legislator is campaigning on Beacon Hill to bring money back to his district that would lead to new technology for a fire department, the completion of a senior center addition, and a memorial for veterans who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The items are among the nine earmarks state Rep. James Vallee, D-Franklin, filed to the House's budget proposal last week. Earmarks are a common way for legislators to bring state money back to their districts to pay for local projects.

"This is money that cities and towns don't have when they are struggling to meet expenses," he said. "These aren't things that I come up with, they're things that the towns have come up with."

Vallee has put in an earmark of $100,000 to bring new digital and wireless technology to the Franklin Fire Department. Fire Chief Gary McCarraher said it would allow the department to enter the modern era.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here