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ERC5 East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce

Senator Jake Oliveira Secures Targeted Fair Share Investments for Local Schools and Infrastructure Across Western Massachusetts

CommunityEducationHuman InterestPress ReleaseChamberEconomicGeneral News ArticlePolitical

BOSTON, MA — State Senator Jake Oliveira (Ludlow-D) announced today that he has secured targeted investments for local schools and infrastructure across the Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester District as part of the Massachusetts Senate’s $1.57 billion Fair Share supplemental budget.

The legislation combines direct investments in education and transportation with policy changes to lower housing costs, strengthen the primary care workforce, and provide relief to cities and towns facing rising costs.

“Communities across our district and the Commonwealth are feeling the pressure every day — school districts trying to keep up with rising special education costs, families navigating higher health care expenses, communities managing aging infrastructure,” said Senator Oliveira. “This funding is about responding to those realities in a targeted, practical way.”

As part of the broader statewide package, Senator Oliveira secured funding for projects identified through direct conversations with local officials, educators, and community leaders:

Education Investments

  • $125,000 for Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School to purchase EKG machines and related equipment for Health Assisting and Medical Assisting programs 
  • $120,000 for Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District for district-wide computer replacement and upgrades to computer graphics classrooms 
  • $110,000 for Longmeadow Public Schools for access control system replacement, expanded surveillance, and instructional technology upgrades 
  • $200,000 for Sgt. Robert R. Litwin School to replace the gymnasium floor 
  • $40,000 for Henry J. Skala School for playground improvements 
  • $15,000 for South Hadley High School to upgrade auditorium light board systems 
  • $7,500 for Michael Smith Middle School for digital communication screens 
  • $25,000 for Ludlow Public Schools to help offset rising special education costs 
Local Infrastructure
  • $100,000 for road improvements in Belchertown, including design work on the Main Street and North Main Street project 
“These are practical investments; equipment students will use, facilities that need repair, and infrastructure communities rely on,” Oliveira added. “They’re targeted because that’s how you make real impact at the local level.”

The Senate’s supplemental budget also makes significant Fair Share investments across Massachusetts, including:
  • $618 million for education, including increased special education reimbursements and new investments in early education, literacy, and higher education research 
  • $763 million for transportation, including funding for municipal road repairs, regional transit, and MBTA improvements 
  • $100 million in municipal relief to help cities and towns respond to extraordinary winter costs from the 2026 blizzards 
The legislation also includes policy initiatives that incentivize new housing construction by exempting certain building materials from the sales tax, and expand access to primary care through scholarships for UMass Chan Medical School students who commit to serving underserved communities.
These investments are funded through the voter-approved Fair Share surtax on annual incomes over $1 million, which continues to generate revenue for education and transportation priorities across the Commonwealth.
 
The Senate passed the bill with a 35-4 roll call vote and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review.

Senator Jake Oliveira Secures Targeted Fair Share Investments for Local Schools and Infrastructure Across Western Massachusetts