HOLYOKE — In another edition of her “Rep’s Message” series with Holyoke Media, state Rep. Patricia Duffy (D-Holyoke) spoke about some of the accomplishments made at the statehouse following the completion of the state house’s 19-month formal session and how Holyoke will look to benefit.
Duffy said the state made significant investments in helping working families, including investments into public education such as free breakfast and lunch for all public school students.
“We’re bringing our students in, we’re educating them, we’re hopefully teaching them how to work and play. Let’s feed them and let’s get them food,” Duffy said.
Duffy added that more investments into education and transportation across the state have been made possible in thanks to the Fair Share Amendment, which provides a 4% surtax on income over $1 million.
“Meaning, if you make $1,000,001, it’s just that $1 you have the 4% surtax on. That money gets put into what’s called the Fair Share Fund and we have made a pledge — it’s also legislatively, the voters asked for it — that money will only go to public education and transportation,” Duffy explained. “There’s a lot of money going to the MBTA as Boston is a central part of our economy, but we also have $204 million going to our regional transit authorities, which means we’re catching up with where we should be funding in places like the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority.”
Duffy said $45 million in supplemental Chapter 90 money will also be going to roads and bridges and will go directly to municipalities to keep working on projects needed to be funded thanks to the Fair Share Amendment.
“It gets spread out proportionally, not unlike school funding, and takes into account the number of miles of roads, your population, etc.,” Duffy added.
Duffy was also happy to share the large amount of funding Holyoke’s schools will receive as well from the amendment.
“Holyoke Public Schools are getting $101 million from the state here. As it should be. We have high needs students and there were so many years before the student opportunity act when Holyoke wasn’t getting the funding it needed to take care of our citizens, so we’re getting to where we need to be,” Duffy said.
Additionally, Duffy shared there will be $75,000 for Holyoke Community College’s Thrive Program that helps students address nonacademic issues that could interfere with their studies, such as food and housing insecurity.
Homework House will also be receiving funding in $35,000 to help continue its mission of tutoring and mentoring children living in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, and another $35,000 toward local favorite celebration of the city’s vibrant cultural diversity Fiestas Patronales. These are just some of the examples of the work being done at the statehouse that is now benefiting Duffy’s constituents in Holyoke.
“Advocating for Holyoke is very gratifying,” Duffy said.
To view Duffy’s complete Rep’s Message conversation, visit Holyoke Media YouTube page.
