Below is a press release from State Senator Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester):
BOSTON, MA — Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) successfully advocated and secured funding for the inclusion of several significant priorities in the newly adopted budget bill which closes out the state government’s 2019 fiscal year. Included among those priorities are millions of dollars in new funding for school districts – including monies to aid with special education costs, student transportation, and charter school reimbursements.
“Ultimately, we were able to direct funds to vital areas of the state that impact millions of lives,” said Senator Tarr. “The ongoing conversations with local officials in cities and towns in our region provided great impetus for my advocacy on their behalf. The resulting bill is responsive to those needs by directing $20 million for local road projects, $20 million for clean drinking water systems, and millions more for regional school transportation, $20 million for charter school reimbursements, bringing the final appropriation up to $95 million, $2 million more for special education and more funding for homeless student school access.”
Tarr praised a strong collaborative effort that bridged gaps between lawmakers from across the state. “School children, including those from regional school districts, are benefiting from a shared interest in supporting them, in particular my Senate colleague Anne Gobi of Spencer worked side-by-side with me to press the importance of the value of funding school transportation and our request was ultimately included in the Senate Ways and Means bill.”
The so-called year ending closeout bill also included other initiatives proposed by Tarr. One such idea that won inclusion creates a $1.5 million program to support the state’s fishing and agricultural sectors.
The genesis of the funding was a bill filed by Tarr to provide a comprehensive grant program for the state’s fishing and farming sectors. He worked with Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Senator Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport ) to incorporate elements of the program into the supplemental spending bill. The new grant making program encourages sustainability of resources, the advancement of innovative approaches to enhanced environmental benefits, and the encouragement of increased economic activity.
“We are experiencing not only a rise in interest in conserving and protecting our natural resources but also in locally harvested nutritious foods, yet the people responding to that interest need our help. By carefully targeting state funds we can help those traditional local business to survive while creating sustainable environments for them to grow,” said Tarr.
The funds will aid the fishing and agriculture industries to pursue fuel efficiencies, carbon emission reductions, sustainable practices, research and development, safety equipment, and food processing techniques. According published reports, the state’s maritime economy is responsible for more than 90,000 jobs and the more than 8,000 farms are responsible for 16,000 more.
While Tarr worked on behalf of many items that will benefit communities across the state, he was also able to secure specific support for some local priorities in the bill.
The Senator authored several amendments that were included for funding in the bill. Tarr said $180,000 put into the bill for the planning, design and construction of a platform at the North Wilmington station was approved by the House and Senate and will help addresses a public safety threat.
Wilmington’s police, fire and other town officials have expressed grave concerns about public safety impacts of MBTA commuter trains impeding traffic on Route 62. Trains stopped at the station block traffic, including first responders. Moreover, the existing platform does not properly accommodate passengers with physical challenges and that, in turn, causes the train to stoop across the roadway for longer periods of time.
“This money will help break the gridlock, open the road and provide a much safer access point for those with mobility issues,” said Tarr.
Tarr, who offered the $180,000 amendment to Senate version of the bill, says it comes at a time when he and Representative David Robertson (D-Tewksbury) and Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford) are continuing to work with town officials and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the state agency responsible for the MBTA Commuter Rail system.
Wilmington Apple 