House Minority Leader Bradley Jones Jr. (R-North Reading) and State Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) have secured $135,000 in state-funding earmarks for four Lynnfield initiatives as part of the fiscal year 2025 state budget.
Enacted by the House and Senate on July 19, the $58.1 billion state budget includes funding for A Healthy Lynnfield, mental health and substance abuse programming through the Lynnfield Health Department, renovations at the Lynnfield Public Library, and preservation work at the historic West Burying Ground and Old Burying Ground. The budget is now on Gov. Maura Healey’s desk for her review and signature.
“I am pleased to have worked alongside Sen. Crighton to help deliver this critical funding for Lynnfield so town officials can carry out some of their top local priorities,” Jones said. “All of these projects will have a positive impact on the residents of Lynnfield, and I look forward to continuing to maintain this strong state-local partnership moving forward.”
“This funding will support important local projects and initiatives that will greatly benefit the entire Lynnfield community,” Crighton said. “I am grateful for the collaboration with Rep. Jones, town officials, and residents, which helped us to secure these funds.”
The budget includes $35,000 to support substance abuse education and programming offered by A Healthy Lynnfield, which is dedicated to promoting a healthier and safer community by preventing substance use and providing residents with access to treatment and recovery resources. Another $50,000 has been allocated to the Lynnfield Health Department for mental health and substance abuse education and programming.
The state budget also includes $25,000 to help pay for design and development costs associated with the Lynnfield Public Library renovation project. After voters rejected plans to construct a new library at the Fall 2023 Town Meeting, local officials opted to renovate the existing library building at 18 Summer St. instead.
An additional $25,000 in funding has been set aside to support the ongoing preservation efforts being undertaken by the Lynnfield Historical Commission at the West Burying Ground and the Old Burying Ground, which date back to 1813 and 1728, respectively, and include the graves of many local veterans who served our country. The funding will be used to repair damaged gravestones, markers and monuments at both cemeteries. The Lynnfield Historical Commission is also working to develop a perpetual care plan to ensure that both sites will receive ongoing maintenance and oversight work in the future.
Healey has until July 29 to sign the budget into law.
