Timilty Files 2025 Budget Amendments Ahead Of Debate. What It Means For Braintree

News release from Sen. Walter Timilty.

BOSTON, MA – Senator Walter F. Timilty (D-Milton) has filed amendments this week to the Fiscal Year 2025 Senate Ways and Means budget recommendations, a bill which includes funding for public schools and essential local services. The amendments that Timilty will be advocating for include substance abuse prevention efforts, mental health services, public safety improvements, public schools, and essential local services for the Town of Braintree.

Timilty is strongly supporting a $105,000 allocation that he filed to be distributed equally among the seven substance abuse prevention coalitions in the Norfolk, Plymouth, and Bristol District. Specifically, if voted favorably, $15,000 will be distributed locally to the Braintree Community Partnership on Substance Use.

“The communities that I proudly serve continue their steadfast advocacy to combat the deadly epidemic that is raging across our Commonwealth. Moreover, our substance use coalitions are on the front lines fighting back against the monumental dangers of opioid use. These programs provide much-needed resources for individuals and family members, establishing and implementing prevention practices,” said Timilty.

“Those who are impacted are our neighbors and our friends, who have needed programs and a community of support. The opioid crisis continues to affect our communities in such a significant way,” said Timilty. “We must continuously strive to end this deadly epidemic. Our substance use prevention coalitions do magnificent work in their communities, like the Braintree Community Partnership on Substance Use. I fully support the outreach, awareness, and education efforts within the district that I proudly serve.”

Furthermore, the mental health of many individuals has been impacted throughout the pandemic and in its aftermath, especially among the youth. As a result, Timilty has filed an amendment advocating for $300,000 to be earmarked for mental health services in the Braintree Public School system.

“The challenges facing our students right now are many. Funding mental health services in the Braintree schools will help to foster both social and emotional well-being,” Timilty said.

In addition, Timilty has filed the following budget amendments for Braintree:

• $200,000 for the Braintree Police Department’s Family Service Unit. This unit is charged with investigating crimes perpetrated against vulnerable populations within the community. Members of the team consist of a unique blend of sworn police and civilian personnel who are dedicated to serving fragile victim populations such as children, the elderly, those with drug and alcohol use, those with mental illness, and those involved in domestic violence situations. Embedded in this unit are licensed mental health clinical co-responders who work with FSU officers to both intervene and respond to behavioral health-related calls.
• $400,000 for Braintree Military and War Memorials.
• $500,000 for Braintree Tri-Town Water Treatment Plant.
• $300,000 for Braintree Fire Department equipment.
• $500,000 for improvements and reconstruction of the John Mahar Highway.
• $100,000 for Braintree Friends Holiday Inc. located at the Marge Crispin Center.

In addition to those amendments benefiting the citizens of Braintree, Timilty filed several amendments that advocate for programs throughout the Norfolk, Plymouth, and Bristol senate district.

Timilty has, also, filed an amendment to allocate $1,000,000 for the Blue Hills Trailside Museum. The Trailside Museum serves as the visitor center for the 7,000-acre Blue Hills Reservation. Located just a few miles outside of downtown Boston, the facility features a natural history museum, outdoor wildlife exhibits, school programs, and summer camps. Moreover, Timilty earmarked $100,000 for the Blue Hills Weather Observatory.

“The Blue Hills Trailside Museum is a phenomenal community asset, serving as the public’s window into the Blue Hills Reservation,” said Timilty. “Each year, the museum welcomes more than 100,000 visitors, including numerous school groups from across the Commonwealth who seek to avail themselves of the museum’s environmental education programs. The funds included in this amendment will ensure that the museum will be able to continue educating the public about the Blue Hills Reservation.”

In addition, Timilty filed an amendment advocating for Firefighter Health and Wellness. The amendment calls for allocating $500,000 for a municipal grant program to be administered by the State Fire Marshal for critical firefighter cancer screenings, including advanced blood screening and imaging. Given the known occupational risk of exposure to carcinogens and the excess number of certain cancers in the Fire Service, Firefighters have recommendations beyond those made for the general population when it comes to cancer screenings.

Timilty is, also, allocating $1.5 million for On-Site Academy, which provides critical resources for first responders. Specifically, the Academy provides residential mental health services for firefighters, law enforcement personnel, EMTs, and Corrections Officers. Specializing in Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder treatment, the On-Site Academy has a return-to-duty rate in excess of 90 percent. On-site Academy is a program that focuses on long-term residential care and re-entry. It provides public safety personnel recovering from trauma or substance-use disorder, a place to live and complete treatment. Moreover, the residential program establishes a safe and stable environment to provide the participant time away from potential stressors that could inhibit treatment and recovery.

The Massachusetts State Senate will begin their Fiscal Year 2025 budget debate on May 21, 2024.