Franklin County representatives got about half of what they asked for in amendments to the House version of the fiscal year 2025 state budget.

After two separate votes, 11 of the 21 amendments proposed by Franklin County representatives were adopted by the House and consolidated into seven larger topical amendments. Ultimately, the House passed a $58.07 billion budget in late April after adding $95.8 million in spending, thus shifting budget talks to the Senate. The House budget directs significant funding toward transportation, housing, workforce development, environmental affairs, and K-12 and higher education.

“This budget takes a fiscally responsible approach to making meaningful investments in areas of significant need,” House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-Quincy, said in a statement. “I’m proud of the fact that the House’s FY25 budget allocates key funding to better support Massachusetts students and families, to increase access to affordable health care, and to provide for a safer and more reliable public transportation system.”

In total, House members filed 1,495 amendments with a fiscal impact of $2.02 billion, according to data from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. However, only 734 amendments were adopted, with 708 adding new spending and 28 adding or amending policy sections or budget language.

More than 90% of the amendments adopted were earmarks — funds that are directed to a specific recipient or project. The greatest amount of spending was added in the areas of labor and economic development, education and local aid, social services, veterans, public health, and mental health and disability.

Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, said it was difficult to craft a budget and allocate sufficient funding amidst a significant decrease in state tax collections. The House’s initial budget proposal was $62 million less than that offered by Gov. Maura Healey.

“As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I participated in the eight public hearings that were held across the commonwealth to hear from residents about what was important to them,” she said. “But it was clear in those hearings that there was a real eye toward being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars during difficult financial times.”

Blais unsuccessfully proposed doubling the rural school aid allocation from $7.5 million to $15 million. She also proposed changes to how aid is distributed to rural school districts that become ineligible due to a sudden increase in students or per capita income within one year. However, neither one passed.

Blais told the Greenfield Recorder the rural school aid allocation was cut in half due to reduced tax revenue.

“I tried very hard to bring that back up to the $15 million level given the amount of support that it has here in the region and across the entire commonwealth,” Blais said. “We were unsuccessful in doing that, but [Sen. Jo] Comerford will be taking up that fight in the Senate.”

Successful Blais amendments included $25,000 to continue a sustainability study of the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont regional school districts and $25,000 for the Mary Lyon Foundation.

Blais and Rep. Susannah Whipps, an Independent from Athol, successfully proposed $100,000 for outdoor recreation infrastructure improvements in Greenfield and $50,000 for infrastructure improvements at the Gill-Montague Senior Center.

“When I write an earmark, especially for a municipality or for infrastructure improvements,” Whipps said, “I try not to be too detailed so they do have some flexibility, and I know that’s what we did there.”

Whipps proposed three earmarks herself, which all passed. Her amendments include $10,000 for History Expo Inc. to help the organization host the 2025 Atholl Highlanders USA Tour; $50,000 for the North Quabbin Community Coalition; and $50,000 for the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce.

“I think that earmarks are incredibly helpful, especially with small organizations that run on a shoestring and provide so many different services for people throughout the district,” Whipps said. “I’m very happy. I hope that these earmarks will pull through to the Senate and be approved by the governor.”

Rep. Aaron Saunders, D-Ludlow, submitted successful amendments that included $50,000 for a feasibility study to assess the estimated costs for building upgrades and the potential uses of the municipally owned Franklin School building in Belchertown and $350,000 for the Westmass Area Development Corporation for operational costs and expenses involved with the revitalization of the Ludlow Mills Industrial Complex.

“Part of being a responsible member is understanding what projects are going on in the district,” Saunders said. “When we talk about housing being one of, if not the most significant challenge facing residents, the housing that has been developed at Ludlow Mills has been transformative and they have really met the moment for what the challenges that we face call for.”

Other successful amendments proposed by Saunders include $25,000 for the Wendell Historical Society to renovate the former Wendell Depot Store and Post Office and $25,000 for the Lupa Zoo and Game Farm in Ludlow.

“This is a more challenging budget year than we’ve had in recent history,” he said. “It really underscores the importance of having a strong advocacy for local priorities, and I know that in western Mass we have an incredible delegation that has really come together to ensure that the priorities of small and rural communities are front and center.”

The budget is now headed to the Senate for debate. The two chambers will then each appoint three members to a conference committee to sort out the differences. An approved version will then be sent to Healey, who will have 10 days to review the budget, making line item vetoes the branches could override by two-third majorities.