Baker signs bill with nearly $900,000 for town organizations

Details: By YourArlington staff; Category: Politics: constituent services; 12 November 2022; Last Updated: 13 August 2023; Hits: 10283

Dave Rogers Rogers Sean Garballey, 2019 Garballey

Friedman

UPDATED Nov. 12: The Massachusetts Legislature has passed a $3.76 billion relief package to provide energy assistance, support transportation needs and invest in small-businesses, caregivers, health care, affordable housing and efforts to fight climate change.

Many thousands of dollars for Arlington-based organizations are included.

The vote occurred Nov. 3, according to a recent news release from Sen. Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Rep. Sean Garballey (D-Arlington) and Rep. David M. Rogers (D-Cambridge), who were among those who voted for its passage. Gov. Baker signed the measure Nov. 11, BostonGlobe.com reported.

The bill includes more than $800,000 for nonprofit efforts based in Arlington, as follows:

$250,000 for local economic recovery efforts;
$200,000 for Food Link;
$125,000 for Arlington Youth Counseling Center;
$100,000 for the Arlington Historical Society;
$100,000 for Parallel Park improvements; and
$100,000 for Arlington EATS

In addition to $3.76 billion in direct investments, the news release states that this legislation ensures that the commonwealth responsibly pays for the historic, $3 billion one-time tax relief that will be returned to an estimated three million taxpayers over the coming weeks. Combined, this $6.76 billion in tax relief and direct investments will provide much-needed breathing room for families, small businesses and individuals feeling the pinch of inflation.

Notably, the bill closes the books on fiscal 2022 and dedicates $500 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, leaving a balance of $1.74 billion in federal resources for future use.

Legislators' comments

“I am pleased with the important investments in both our community and across the commonwealth that this sweeping legislation makes,” said Friedman, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, in the Nov. 10 release. “Providing funding for food-security efforts, affordable-housing initiatives, and the strengthening of hospitals and behavioral health services is a critical step in ensuring our residents continue to have the resources they need as we face rising prices and financial hardships. I was proud to vote to send this legislation to the governor’s desk and thank my colleagues for their work to get this over the finish line.”

Garballey was quoted as saying,"With the high pressures of inflation, cost of living and increased cost of home heating impacting families across our commonwealth, these investments will help ease the burden for working families across our state. I was proud to help lead the effort in securing vital financial support for Massachusetts Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.”

Rogers said in the release, "This bold new spending plan invests in a stunning array of critical priorities, providing funds for financially strained hospitals, housing production, electric vehicle adoption programs and much more. Critical initiatives in the town of Arlington are also supported by the bill."

Other funding: health, environment, education, affordable housing, economic/workforce development

More than $1.4 billion is intended to be spent to support health and human services programs, including:

$350 million for hospitals that have become fiscally strained during the pandemic
$225 million for rate increases for human service workers and providers
$200 million for Covid-19 response efforts
$195 million for nursing facilities and rest homes
$80 million for community health centers
$20 million to reduce gun violence and related trauma throughout the commonwealth, including $3 millionfor a grant program to support school safety infrastructure improvements and $2 million to provide behavioral health-related supports and resources in schools to reduce instances of gun violence
$20 million to bridge impending federal cuts to Victims of Crime Act programs and maintain critical victim-service programs
$17.5 million for reproductive and family planning services
$14 million for facilities that treat individuals with an alcohol or substance use disorder
$5 million to support harm-reduction efforts and services to address substance use disorder
$2.5 million for grants to support the nursing workforce talent pipeline

$540 million is to go to to support clean energy and climate resiliency initiatives, including:
$100 million to promote and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, through the MOR-EV program as well as supports for the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure
$100 million for ports and port infrastructure to support the clean energy economy
$50 million for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to accelerate the transition to and expansion of renewable energy
$175 million for the conservation and improvement of publicly owned lands and investments in green spaces, with an emphasis on investments in environmental justice communities

$115 million is for the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, including $15 million for planning and implementing water pollution abatement project in watersheds designated as nitrogen sensitive areas.

$409.5 million is to be invested to support affordable housing, including:

$100 million for the Commonwealth Builder Program to support the production of for-sale, below market housing to expand homeownership opportunities for first-time homebuyers and socially disadvantaged individuals in communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic
$100 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund established to support the creation and preservation of affordable housing
$100 million to support the production of workforce housing
$50 million for the Equitable Developers Financing Program to support the development of new housing in certain underserved communities
$25 million for regional low-threshold housing to support individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability and who struggle with substance use disorder
$20 million for housing options and additional support services and resources to address the needs of immigrants and refugees
$10 million for public housing redevelopment

More than $500 million is earmarked for early education, economic development, workforce development and community support initiatives, including:

$153 million for small businesses grant relief, including $45M for minority, women, and veteran owned businesses.
$150 million for early education and care providers through the continuation of the Commonwealth Cares for our Children (C3) stabilization grant program, including $60 million for subsidized providers.
$112 million to support the MBTA’s ongoing efforts to address the Federal Transportation Administration’s staffing and safety directives
$100 million for the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust fund to offset estimated overpayments made during the course of the pandemic
$75 million for investments in broadband infrastructure and access across the commonwealth
$57 million for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), ensuring relief to families facing rising energy costs.
$50 million to promote the attainment of debt-free higher education for students pursuing careers in high-demand industries, such as health care, education, and cybersecurity
$25 million for food security infrastructure grants
$12 million to support the agricultural and blue economy sectors
$2.5 million for computer science teacher development

This news announcement was published Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, based on a joint news release from Massachusetts state legislators Cindy Friedman, Sean Garballey and David Rodgers. It was updated Nov. 12, 2022, to reflect the bill's signing.