Rep. Jones Secures $145K for Local Initiatives in FY26 House Budget

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) secured preliminary approval this week for $145,000 in funding earmarks for North Reading as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 House budget proposal.

Jones successfully advocated for state funding assistance to support four local initiatives that will benefit the North Reading Public Schools, the North Reading Fire Department, and the Third Meeting House. The local earmarks include:

• $25,000 to support a full-day kindergarten program;
• $50,000 for security and software upgrades in the North Reading Public Schools;
• $35,000 for the design and/or construction of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements at the Third Meeting House; and
• $35,000 for the North Reading Fire Department to purchase turnout gear

All four North Reading earmarks were approved as part of a consolidated economic development budget amendment that passed the House of Representatives on a vote of 154-3 on April 30. The House engrossed its $61.47 billion state budget proposal later that same day on a vote of 151-6.

“With this financial support from the state budget, the North Reading Public Schools will be able to support kindergarten programming for local families and implement important security and software improvements, while town officials will be able to move forward with accessibility upgrades at the Third Meeting House and ensure that local first responders are equipped with the proper safety gear,” said Jones. “I was happy to advocate for these four priority funding initiatives on North Reading’s behalf and will do everything I can to see this funding is retained in the final budget.”

The budget process now moves to the Senate, which is scheduled to debate its own Fiscal Year 2026 spending plan the week of May 19. Once the Senate budget is passed, a six-member House and Senate conference committee will be appointed to negotiate the differences between the two proposals and produce a final budget that will be sent to Governor Maura Healey for her review and signature.