State Rep. Mike Finn (far left), West Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefania Raschilla (second from left), Mayor William Reichelt (second from right) and state Sen. John Velis (far right) hold a $300,000 check from the state that will go toward education programs, transportation and capital improvements.
Reminder Publishing photo by Ryan Feyre
WEST SPRINGFIELD — West Springfield Public Schools received a $300,000 earmark from the state for capital improvements, education programming and transportation.
According to state Rep. Mike Finn, a West Springfield Democrat, the money was part of the $1.32 billion in surplus Fair Share revenue from fiscal year 2024 that Gov. Maura Healey signed into law in late June.
Healey’s office announced that the funding comes from the $2.46 billion in surtax revenue collected in FY24.
“We’re proud, working with state Legislature and town administration, to be able to present this check for $300,000,” Finn said at an announcement ceremony on Oct. 7 outside Coburn Elementary School. “We’re very happy to be able to bring home additional resources to the town of West Springfield.”
West Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefania Raschilla said that the earmark is split into three different allocations: $100,000 for student transportation, $100,00 for supplies and materials and $100,000 for infrastructure support for the buildings that may need upgrades.
Talking at the announcement, state Sen. John Velis — a Westfield Democrat — emphasized the importance of this money, especially as the commonwealth faces a potential $2 billion shortfall due to cuts at the federal level.
“The money that we’re able to get, it’s just vital, because so much of this from the federal government is just not going to be happening for the foreseeable future,” Velis said. “From the superintendent to the mayor reaching out to us and working with Rep. Finn, this is how good stuff happens.”
Mayor William Reichelt noted that earmarks such as this one allow the town to do more with less local taxpayer dollars.
“It’s more funding from the state that allows us to offset those costs to the taxpayers and do a lot more with less local dollars,” Reichelt said.
The $1.32 billion supplemental budget Healey signed in June included $758.8 million in one-time funding to support transportation needs across the state and $561.4 million for early education, K-12 and higher education systems.
