Massachusetts Senate Passes Budget Investing in Municipalities, Education, Lowering Costs

Spending plan completes Student Opportunity Act commitment, expands housing growth, and shields residents from federal cuts—without increasing a single tax or fee 

JUNE 1, 2026

Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) recently joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate in unanimously passing a $63.37 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2027 that invests responsibly in public education and municipalities, unlocks new opportunities for housing growth, and upholds the Commonwealth’s core commitments to its residents. 

Every investment made by the Senate comes without raising a single tax or fee on Massachusetts residents, who are already feeling the weight of inflation, tariffs, and the impact of the federal government’s costly foreign entanglements. 

“This budget is proof of what we can accomplish when every member of this chamber brings their best to the table,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Together, we have built a spending plan that meets this moment and delivers record investments in our cities and towns, expands access to food and economic security for our most vulnerable residents, and creates new pathways for housing growth across the Commonwealth. This is a budget that reflects the kind of state we are committed to being, investing in our people, protecting our communities, and leading with purpose even in uncertain times. I am deeply grateful to Chair Rodrigues, Vice Chair Comerford, and Assistant Vice Chair Feeney for their extraordinary leadership, and to every Senator and staffer who poured themselves into this work. This is the Senate at its best.” 

“Over these past three days, Senators have embraced the collaborative budget process and engaged in a thoughtful manner to address our shared priorities in areas like early education, special education, school-based mental health, food security, child protection, public safety, and supportive housing for our most vulnerable,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The deliberations this week are a strong example of our commitment to fiscal responsibility and living within our means to produce positive results for the Commonwealth during this time of continued economic uncertainty. Thank you to the Senate Ways and Means staff and all Senate staff whose dedicated work was largely responsible for strengthening this budget plan. And I would like to offer my continuing thanks to Senate President Spilka, our committee vice chairs Senator Comerford and Senator Feeney, and all of my Senate colleagues whose desire to help further perfect this Senate budget plan is only going to help shape a better future for our residents and our communities.” 

Senator Driscoll is especially proud to highlight district and other policy-related investments he lead or supported in the budget. In total, Driscoll secured over $1.3 million more than the House’s UGGA proposals and directed another $1.2 million to Norfolk, Plymouth & Bristol district organizations and initiatives:

Braintree

• $7,431,595 in Unrestricted General Government Aid, a 4.3% increase from FY26

• $80,000 for the Department of Elder Affairs

• $10,000 for the food security programming at the Joshua Kaye Foundation

Bridgewater

• $4,763,678 in Unrestricted General Government Aid, a 5.1% increase from FY26

• $200,000 for the Easterseals College Navigator program

• $100,000 for Repaving the Bridgewater Cole Yeaton Senior Center Parking Lot

Easton

• $2,927,389 in Unrestricted General Government Aid, a 7.4% increase from FY26

• $70,000 for the Swift Memorial Park

• $26,000 for the organization, Raising Multicultural Kids, for educational programming and teacher recruitment

Milton

• $4,226,799 in Unrestricted General Government Aid a 5.7% increase from FY26

• $300,000 for the Blue Hills Trailside Museum

• $125,000 for the Curry College School of Nursing and Health Sciences

• $100,000 for the Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center

Randolph

• $6,747,126 in Unrestricted General Government Aid, a 4.3% increase from FY26

• $65,000 for the town social worker program

• $20,000 for traffic calming along Route 28

Stoughton

• $4,218,362 in Unrestricted General Government Aid, 5.8% increase from FY26

• $100,000 for the town’s Tricentennial Celebration

• $50,000 for the train depot revitalization project and the construction of a new community center

West Bridgewater

• $875,241 in Unrestricted General Government Aid, a 7.5% increase from FY26

• $10,000 for the Soul Project for the Soulful Girls Club program and other programming focused on keeping teen girls connected to their communities

Plymouth County

• $100,000 Mutual Aid Communication funding to support West Bridgewater and Bridgewater and other first responders operating in Plymouth County

In partnership with Senator John F. Keenan (D-Quincy), the two secured $100,000 for the Fire Chiefs' Association of Plymouth. This funding specifically supports regional mutual aid and communication operations in fire departments, through the purchase and upkeep of emergency communications equipment.

Also of note for the town of Bridgewater was the inclusion of $1 million set for Prison Mitigation spending. This investment is meant to compensate Commonwealth cities and towns that host correctional facilities. For Bridgewater, this means local support to help offset costs to maintain and operate the correctional complex.

“This comprehensive FY27 budget is a product of a months long effort between legislators, local officials, and advocates,” said Driscoll. “Included are fundamental investments in housing, healthcare, education, safety and security, and with a historic level of UGGA spending for each city and town across Massachusetts. I thank Chair Rodrigues, President Spilka, the rest of leadership, and all of my colleagues for delivering a budget that serves the local needs of our Commonwealth.”

The budget makes historic investments in cities and towns through record levels of Chapter 70 school aid—which helps support the full range of school expenses from teachers to school supplies—and Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), which local leaders can use as flexible spending for everything from paving sidewalks to hiring police officers. 

The budget completes the Legislature’s promise to fully fund and implement the Student Opportunity Act with $7.66 billion in funding for local school districts—an increase of $297 million over last fiscal year—along with a record $160-per-pupil minimum for local school aid. It also boosts UGGA by $53 million, distributed through a new method based on population, while formally starting the process of reforming the UGGA distribution formula to be more equitable and move forward from an outdated system that has left some municipalities behind. 

“This budget proposal reflects the Senate’s commitment to meet this moment with urgency, compassion, skill, and resolve,” said Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “As residents and communities across Massachusetts face rising costs and constant uncertainty, this proposal makes critical investments in food security, health care, education, and municipal support. While we cannot fully address the hardship stemming from federal cuts, this budget works to protect essential services and to guard against further harm. I have deep appreciation for the leadership of Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues in advancing a budget that delivers real support for the people and communities of the Commonwealth.” 

“The Fiscal Year 2027 budget adopted by the Senate today is the result of months of thoughtful collaboration and public engagement, including nine public hearings held in communities across the Commonwealth, testimony from hundreds of residents, advocates, non-profit organizations, and over 1100 amendments considered by the Senate during our debate. Process is what makes this product strong: it responds to the needs articulated to us, reflects our shared priorities and upholds the fiscal discipline necessary to navigate an uncertain economic climate,” said Paul R. Feeney (D-Foxborough), Assistant Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Under the leadership of Senate President Karen Spilka and Chairman Michael Rodrigues, this budget invests in record-high municipal aid, historic education funding, and keeps our longstanding commitment to expand opportunity without raising new taxes or tapping into our Rainy Day fund. Each and every dollar spent in this balanced, responsible budget was carefully considered to meet the needs of our residents today and keep the Commonwealth competitive to embrace the challenges of tomorrow." 

The budget reconvenes the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) to examine the current K-12 funding formula and assess new ways to address rising costs in special education, student transportation, personnel, and educator health care. It also establishes a commission to study public school construction financing through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to ensure grant funding is allocated responsibly and equitably. 

On housing, the budget builds on last session’s Affordable Homes Act (AHA) with provisions to streamline local permitting, support development on nonconforming properties, provide reasonable timelines for projects to move forward under existing zoning rules, and modernize the variance standard — all aimed at meeting housing demand and driving down costs. 

The budget directs over $265 million toward anti-hunger, food security, and economic security—including $148 million for Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) caseworkers to maintain SNAP program integrity and comply with new federal requirements, $55 million for Emergency Food Assistance, and $29.7 million for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) supporting local farmers and healthy food access.  

It fully annualizes recent benefit increases through Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) to fight deep poverty and includes a $500 clothing allowance per child for families receiving TAFDC benefits. 

Additional investments include improved safety standards at assisted living residences following the tragic Gabriel House fire in Fall River; expanded affordability in higher education through Senate-led programs like MassEducate; and full funding for jail diversion programs connecting individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders to appropriate treatment—improving lives and strengthening public safety. 

The budget also includes a consumer protection provision requiring companies to make canceling a subscription as easy as signing up, shielding residents from junk fees and hard-to-cancel recurring charges. 

During debate, Senators adopted amendments sending resources to programs and institutions that serve residents across Massachusetts, including funding for the Museum of African American History. 

Notably, the Senate adopted an amendment shielding children from sexual exploitation and abusive power dynamics by protecting children aged 16 and 17 from sexual interactions with people who are responsible for their care and oversight—mandated reporters such as teachers and coaches, police officers, and social workers and Department of Children and Families (DCF) custodians. 

A detailed summary highlighting the many key components of the budget is available in a fact sheet in the Senate’s press room.  

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