THE MASS BRIEF

Monday, May 25, 2026  |  Memorial Day Edition

 

The Lead

The Millionaires Tax Is Minting Money — And Nobody Quite Knows What to Do With It

When Massachusetts voters approved the so-called “Fair Share Amendment” in 2022, supporters promised it would raise at least $2 billion a year by slapping a 4% surtax on income above $1 million. Critics warned the rich would flee the state. Neither side anticipated this: with two months still left in the fiscal year, the surtax has already pulled in more than $3.1 billion — blowing past last year’s $3 billion haul and absolutely dwarfing the $2.4 billion the state had budgeted to spend from it. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue quietly dropped that number in a letter last week, and Beacon Hill heard it loud and clear.

Here’s what makes this interesting beyond the raw dollars: the surplus isn’t just a feel-good statistic. It means legislative leaders — House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka — will head into next year’s budget season with a pile of unexpected cash and zero shortage of people who want it. Education and transportation advocates, who were the driving force behind the amendment, are already watching closely to make sure the money actually gets spent on those priorities as promised, rather than getting shuffled into the general fund to paper over other gaps.

What happens next: expect a spirited debate this fall and winter over how to allocate the overage. The inflation-adjustment mechanism (the taxable threshold has already climbed to $1.1 million) means the yield could moderate over time, but for now, Massachusetts has a high-class budget problem. The question isn’t whether there’s money — it’s whether Beacon Hill has the discipline to spend it wisely.

Full story at Boston Globe →

 

What Else You Should Know

🔥 A Firefighter Died Serving This City. Today, Massachusetts Honors Him.

Boston firefighter Robert Kilduff Jr. — known to colleagues as “Duke” — fell through the third floor of a Dorchester triple-decker Saturday night while helping get residents out of a burning building. He spent more than two decades with the department, was a retired Marine, and by all accounts was the heart of his firehouse at Rescue 2 in Roxbury. Governor Maura Healey ordered flags to half-staff across the state. On a day set aside to honor those who gave everything in service, Kilduff’s death is a sharp reminder that sacrifice isn’t only something that happens overseas. WCVB →

🛂 Trump’s Green Card Rule Change Has Mass. Immigrants Scrambling

A surprise policy shift announced Friday by the Trump administration would require most people seeking permanent residency to leave the United States and apply from their home country — reversing a longstanding practice that allowed immigrants with legal status to adjust in place. For Massachusetts residents from countries under travel bans, including Iran, the change could amount to a one-way ticket out. Immigration lawyers across the state are racing to interpret the policy, and advocates say the vague “extraordinary circumstances” exception is doing nothing to calm fears. Boston Globe →

📚 Teachers Got Raises. Now Districts Are Planning Layoffs.

It’s a painful pattern playing out across Massachusetts: unions negotiate hard-won contracts with real pay increases, local politicians sign off to avoid election-year disruptions, and then — sometimes within months — the same districts announce cuts. Boston agreed to a $181 million boost in school spending in April 2025; by January, city officials were floating up to 400 job cuts. Newton and Marblehead are in similar spots. This is a structural problem, not just a local one, and it’s worth asking whether anyone at the bargaining table is doing honest math. Boston Globe →

🏠 South Shore Budget Squeeze: Marshfield’s Public Safety at a Crossroads

Marshfield’s Select Board got a stark reality check this month: without a Prop. 2½ override, the police department faces a $350,000 cut — even as calls for service have surged 276% over the past two decades. The fire department is already stretched thin with unfilled vacancies. Board members and residents are anxious, and the clock is ticking toward a July 1 budget deadline. This is the kind of slow-moving municipal crisis that doesn’t make headlines until something goes wrong. South Shore News →

🏫 Norwell Kindergarten Families Face a Steeper Bill

The Norwell School Committee voted to raise its full-day kindergarten fee from $3,750 to $4,250 — a $500 jump per child — after enrollment came in well below projections, leaving the program staring at a $95,000 deficit. For families who counted on that price when planning their budgets, it’s a tough surprise. The broader dynamic here — districts relying on fee-based programs to fill funding gaps — is one worth watching statewide as education budgets tighten. South Shore News →

💸 Hanover Lost $1.2 Million in Federal Relief Money. Nobody’s Happy About It.

What was supposed to be a routine reorganization meeting for the Hanover Select Board turned into a public airing of grievances over $1.2 million in ARPA pandemic relief funds the town apparently lost due to missed deadlines and administrative fumbles. Former board chair Rhonda Nyman showed up as a private citizen to say the quiet part loud, clashing with newly elected chair Greg Satterwhite. The money was meant for infrastructure and salary reimbursements. It’s gone now. South Shore News →

 

Worth Your Attention

Budget season is heating up on Beacon Hill — with the millionaires tax surplus and federal funding uncertainty both in play, keep an eye on committee hearings this week as the House and Senate work toward a conference budget agreement.

Marshfield voters should watch for a potential override question on an upcoming ballot; the Select Board’s public safety discussion makes clear the timeline is short and the stakes are real. South Shore News →

Memorial Day ceremonies are being held across the state today — if you’re looking for one near you, most towns hold services at local war memorials around 11 a.m. WWLP →

 

FY2027 Budget Tracker

Current stage: Senate passes budget

Governor's Budget (H2) — filed

House Budget (H5500) | 1744 amendments filed — house_floor

Senate Budget (H5501) | 1 amendments filed — senate_passed

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