Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 5, 2026 Sen. Lewis and Mass. Senate pass FY 2027 state budget O n May 21, 2026, Senator Jason Lewis joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to approve a $63.4 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) to continue supporting Massachusetts residents and investing in the Commonwealth’s future. The Senate’s budget proposal safeguards the Commonwealth’s financial health, protects its most vulnerable residents and makes investments that reinforce the Commonwealth’s economic vitality, all while not raising taxes or fees on residents. It was passed with bipartisan support and includes major investments to support municipalities, public education, housing, healthcare, transportation and more. “Especially during a time when residents are feeling the strain of rising costs, I’m proud that this budget will deliver critical resources for our public schools and communities, and will make our state more affordable for working families with significant investments in childcare, housing, food security, and healthcare,” said Senator Lewis. “I want to thank all the advocates and constituents who shared their priorities and helpful feedback with me throughout the budget process.” Key fiscal highlights of the Senate’s FY27 budget: • $7.7 billion in Chapter 70 funding for K-12 public education, an increase of $297 million over FY26, as well as increasing the minimum Chapter 70 aid increase to $160 per pupil • $1.4 billion for Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) to cities and towns, a significant increase of $53 million over FY26 • $1.9 billion for early educaCEREMONY | FROM PAGE 3 $135,000. An additional $50,000 in scholarship awards from Malden High School Scholarship Inc. will be announced at Sunday’s Commencement as well by alumni representative Greg Lucey. This year’s class speakers include some remarkable students, with #1-ranked Class of State Senator Jason Lewis (Courtesy photo) tion and childcare programs, including $475 million for Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants, to improve quality, access and affordability for working families • $22.7 billion to fund MassHealth, providing two million people with continued access to affordable, accessible and comprehensive healthcare services • $1.9 billion to support public safety, security and criminal justice initiatives • $1.3 billion to support a wide range of mental health services and prevention programs, which are critical to the well-being of adults and children in need • $1.1 billion for housing initiatives, dedicating resources for housing stability, residential assistance, emergency shelter services and homelessness assistance • $455 million for environmental initiatives to protect the state’s natural resources, ensure clean air and water and mitigate climate change • $265 million toward food 2026 senior Kelly Ye serving as Valedictorian. She is headed to MIT in the fall. Lincoln Boswell is the #2-ranked MHS Class of 2026 senior class and will deliver the Salutatorian address. Boswell, who happens to be one of three Boswell triplets receiving diplomas Sunday, will attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in New York this fall. The #3-ranked senior is Thomas Conti and he and economic security, including funding to maintain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) integrity and comply with new federal requirements and continue the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which supports local farmers and helps families afford fresh fruits and vegetables Key policy highlights of the Senate’s FY27 budget: • Reconvening the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) to examine the current K-12 school funding formula and assess new ways to address rising costs in special education, student transportation, personnel and healthcare — a commission for which Senator Lewis has advocated for several years to support communities struggling with rising education costs • Establishing a commission to study the adequacy and distribution of UGGA • Establishing a commission to review the adequacy and equity of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and will speak as Class Orator. Conti is headed to Harvard University. Also addressing her fellow graduates and the large audience expected to be on hand will be Senior Class President Linh Do. Some special performances at Sunday’s Commencement will be provided by the MHS Choral Arts Society, under the direction of Todd Cole, and the MHS Band, directed by Lauren Foley. make recommendations for reforms • Repealing the outdated Learnfare policy that strips low-income families of some of their financial assistance from the Commonwealth if a student has too many unexcused absences from school — a policy that Senator Lewis filed as a budget amendment and led the passage (36-4) of on the Senate floor • Requiring companies to make canceling a subscription as easy as signing up, shielding residents from junk fees and hard-to-cancel recurring charges The Senate’s budget includes a projected $2.7 billion in revenue from the Fair Share Amendment, a 4% surtax on annual household income above $1 million approved by voters in 2022 for education and transportation investments. Along with a $1.4 billion Fair Share supplemental budget passed by the Senate in April, the Senate is directing over $4 billion to provide universal free school meals for *** Parking is limited, use of public transportation is advised Parking is limited in the neighborhood around Macdonald Stadium, and those attending are urged to arrive early and also to consider alternative means of transportation, such as public transportation, as the stadiall K-12 students; increase K-12 school funding through the Student Opportunity Act; increase access to affordable, high-quality early education and childcare; expand investment in the MBTA; provide additional funds to maintain local roads; and more. Senator Lewis was successful in securing $500,000 to fund a variety of local projects in his communities, including park improvements, housing security and more, and $1 million to support farm-to-school food grants and food system literacy programming in public elementary and secondary schools and early education programs. On April 29, 2026, the House of Representatives had passed its version of the budget. On May 28, a conference committee was appointed to reconcile differences between the versions of the budget passed by the Senate and House. After that process, the Legislature will send its budget to Governor Maura Healey for review and approval or veto of the whole or parts of it, or to amend it. um is located directly adjacent to the Malden Center MBTA Orange Line Station, which is also a public bus hub. There is a rain date, Monday, June 8 at 4:00 p.m., should the need arise. At present, the weather forecast is sketchy for the big day on Sunday, with an 80% chance and potential late afternoon showers and thunderstorms.
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