Press Release Oliveira: Regional Equity and Education Investments in Fair Share Supplemental Budget

Pioneer Valley — Building on his commitment to regional equity and strong public education, State Senator Jake Oliveira is proud to announce the successful securing of more than $750,000 in Fair Share Amendment funding for public schools across his district. These targeted investments were secured as part of a broader $1.33 billion statewide package funded through revenues from the Fair Share Amendment, which voters approved in 2022, providing targeted investments in public education and transportation across the Commonwealth by creating an additional tax on annual incomes over $1 million. 

“As a former School Committee member and a proud product of public education, I know firsthand the immense benefits to individuals and the region when we have the same access to opportunity as other areas of the Commonwealth,” said Senator Oliveira. “That means delivering both the funding and the infrastructure that our local schools and communities need. I’m proud to have helped to bring meaningful, regionally equitable investments home.” 

The funding Oliveira secured will support a wide range of infrastructure and programming needs in local school districts, including: 

• $28,500 to Ludlow Public Schools for classroom technology upgrades 
• $150,000 to East Longmeadow High School for gymnasium bleacher replacement 
• $75,000 to Granby Public Schools to expand their Information Technology Pathway program 
• $100,000 to Belcher School in Chicopee for critical HVAC system upgrades 
• $30,000 to Old Mill Pond Elementary School in Palmer for accessible playground improvements 
• $26,000 to Palmer High School for gymnasium upgrades 
• $80,000 to South Hadley Public Schools for district-wide gym improvements 
• $92,500 to the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District for technology upgrades 
• $93,000 to Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School to upgrade its horticultural vocational program 
• $75,000 to Longmeadow Public Schools to modernize school security systems 

This funding is part of the larger Senate-approved Fair Share spending bill, An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects, which directs funding generated by a surtax on incomes over $1 million toward public education and transportation. In addition to Senator Oliveira’s local earmarks, the bill includes major statewide investments aimed at correcting longstanding inequities between regions.
 
The Senate’s version of the plan embraces a more equitable funding model that prioritizes Western Massachusetts and other historically underfunded areas. The bill allocates $248 million for special education, $100 million to expand technical education programs, and millions more for literacy initiatives and infrastructure modernization at public colleges and universities. 

“We are delivering on the promise of the Fair Share Amendment,” Oliveira said. “This isn’t just about a number on a spreadsheet—it’s about real outcomes for our kids, for our educators, and for our regional economy. It’s about making sure students from Palmer to South Hadley have the same high-quality facilities, programs, and support as anywhere else in the Commonwealth.” 

In addition to Oliveira’s local earmarks, the Senate plan includes transformative funding priorities across education and transportation that will greatly benefit Western Massachusetts, including: 

• $248 million for special education reimbursements 
• $100 million to expand technical education programs 
• $50 million for capital improvements at regional transit authorities 
• $25 million for micro-transit and “Last Mile” transportation solutions for rural communities 
• $82.5 million in Chapter 90 road funding allocated by road mileage, benefiting rural municipalities 
• $175 million for deferred maintenance at public higher education institutions 
• $25 million for K–3 literacy education 
• $10 million for English Language Learner service expansions 
• $50 million to help school districts manage construction cost overruns due to inflation and tariffs 

“This plan levels the playing field for Western Massachusetts,” Oliveira said. “Whether it’s boosting our vocational programs, modernizing our transit systems, or ensuring equitable education funding, the Fair Share dollars are finally being deployed in a way that lifts up every region.” 

Senator Oliveira emphasized that these investments reflect a broader vision of fairness across the Commonwealth. “Regional equity means lifting up every corner of the state, not just those with the loudest voices or largest populations. With this legislation, we are proving that policy can reflect our values.” 

The final budget will be determined through negotiations between the House and Senate, but Senator Oliveira remains committed to protecting the education funding and regional priorities secured in the Senate version of the bill. 
“Our students, educators, and families deserve facilities and resources that match our ambition and potential,” said Senator Oliveira. “This funding represents not only much-needed improvements but also our shared commitment to the future of education and transportation in Massachusetts.”