Representative Jones, Senator Crighton Secure $170,000 for Three Lynnfield Initiatives in FY2026 State Budget

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and State Senator Brendan P. Crighton (D-Lynn) have secured a total of $170,000 in state funding assistance for three Lynnfield initiatives as part of the $61.01 billion Fiscal Year 2026 state budget that was enacted by the House and Senate on June 30. This funding will benefit A Healthy Lynnfield and facilitate improvements to the Glen Meadow Little League Field and Lynnfield Middle School but is still preliminary and needs to be approved by Governor Maura Healey before any money can be disbursed to the town.

The state spending plan, which is currently under review by the governor, also calls for an increase in both Chapter 70 education aid and Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) for cities and towns, which will be funded statewide at $7.36 billion and $1.323 billion, respectively. The budget sets minimum per pupil aid at $150 per student, an increase from the Fiscal Year 2025 rate of $104 per student, while also fully funding the fifth year of the Student Opportunity Act.

Lynnfield is scheduled to receive $6,502,690 in Chapter 70 school assistance, an increase of $329,400 over Fiscal Year 2025. The town will also get $1,294,692 in UGGA funding to support other essential municipal services – including public safety, library services and local parks – which represents an increase of $14,087 over current funding levels.

The Fiscal Year 2026 budget provides $180 million so local school districts can continue to offer universal free school meals to students for breakfast and lunch, regardless of family income. It also contains a provision requiring the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to conduct a review of the current funding formula for K-12 education as it relates to local contribution requirements. DESE is due to report back with its findings and recommendations by June 30, 2026.

Representative Jones and Senator Crighton successfully advocated for the inclusion of a $45,000 earmark in the state budget for the Glen Meadow Little League Field. This funding will help support improvements to the infield and batting cages through a partnership with the Town of Lynnfield and Lynnfield Little League.

Another $75,000 has been allocated in the state budget for Lynnfield Middle School. This funding will be used to facilitate the town’s plans to convert unused locker rooms at LMS to a health center for students.

In addition, Jones’ and Crighton’s efforts on behalf of the town have yielded a $50,000 earmark for A Healthy Lynnfield, a local organization which is dedicated to preventing substance use and providing Lynnfield residents with access to treatment and recovery resources. This funding is to be used for substance use programming including, but not limited to, prevention education.

“Working together with Senator Crighton on the town’s behalf, we were able to secure funding to address some of the town’s top priorities,” said Jones. “These earmarks will benefit Lynnfield’s youth and middle school students and will also support A Healthy Lynnfield’s ongoing efforts to address the scourge of substance use through prevention education and a continuing focus on helping individuals and families connect to the resources they need for support and recovery.”

“In collaboration with Leader Jones and local officials in Lynnfield, we were successful in securing funding that will have a positive impact on our constituents,” said Senator Crighton. “Through these earmarks, recovery and support services for preventing substance use will be bolstered and Lynnfield's students will be supported through the middle school's health center plans.”

Governor Healey has until July 10 to approve the budget and to issue any vetoes or proposed amendments.