What Is the Fair Share Amendment?

Paid for By Fair Share

Learn more about the Fair Share Amendment

The Fair Share Amendment, passed by voters in November 2022, creates a 4 percent tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and dedicate the funds raised to public education and transportation.

Only people who earn more than $1 million annually pay this additional income tax; 99 percent of us don’t pay a penny more. And we all benefit from better schools, colleges and universities, roads, bridges and public transportation.

Partnering with the Raise Up Massachusetts coalition, MTA members played an integral role in establishing the priorities and securing the funding displayed in this budget.

How Are Fair Share Revenues Being Spent?

Since the introduction of the Fair Share Amendment in FY24, which began on July 1, 2023, $6.4 billion in tax revenue has been designated for transportation and public education. In more specific terms, the state Legislature has appropriated $2.58 billion for transportation and $3.85 billion for public education as a result of the Fair Share Amendment.

FY26 FY25 FY24

The Numbers

Here's how the Fair Share Amendment is making a difference for public education.

K-12 Public Schools=$1.72 billion
  • Reimbursement to school districts for universal free school meals=$431 million.

  • Direct aid to local public schools=$592.1 million.
    • Chapter 70.
    • Minimum aid.
    • Regional transportation reimbursements.

  • School building improvements=$314.5 million.
    • School construction projects.
    • Clean energy projects.
    • Capital improvements to support career technical education.

  • New programs=$128 million.
    • Early literacy for students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 3.
    • Expansion of early college, workforce and technical and innovation pathways. 
    • The development of a statewide birth through higher education framework for mental and behavioral health.
    • Reduced waitlists for language services for English language learners.
    • Scholarships and student loan repayment assistance for public school educators.

  • Future investments including reserves for special education circuit breaker reimbursements and Student Opportunity Act Investment fund=$290 million.
Public Colleges and Universities=$891 million

Affordable public colleges and universities=$291.5 million. Including:

  • MassGrant Plus financial aid program.
  • $Aid for students pursuing an in-demand profession.

Tuition-free community college=$287.5 million. Including:

  • Scholarship programs for nursing students, capacity-building efforts for the implementation of free community colleges, and the MassReconnect program that provides tuition-free community college for students ages 25+.

Public college buildings and infrastructure=$16.5 million.

Public college and university campus funding=$43 million.

New public higher education programs=$103.8 million. Including:

  • Endowment match program for public colleges and universities.
  • Wraparound supports and services for public college students.
  • Financial assistance to students enrolled in Massachusetts public higher education institutes.

 

Early Education and Care=$1.245 billion

Operational grants to child care providers=$722 million.

Increased reimbursement rates for providers who enroll children receiving child care financial assistance=$263.2 million.

Expanded eligibility for child care financial assistance to reduce the waitlist for income-eligible early education and care programs=$83 million.

New early education programs=$176.5 million. Including:

  • Expansion of pre-kindergarten or preschool opportunities.
  • Endowment match program for public colleges and universities.
  • Salaries and benefits for early educators who serve low-income children.
  • Capital improvements to build capacity for child care.
  • Early education and care educator loan forgiveness program
Public Transportation=$1.35.million

MBTA infrastructure and operations=$893 million. This includes:

  • MBTA infrastructure improvements.
  • A low-income reduced MBTA fare program.
  • Workforce and safety improvements.
  • MBTA Academy program to train a skilled workforce.

Improvements at regional transit authorities=$432 million. This includes:

  • Expanded service hours, weekend services and route expansions.
  • Fare-free regional transit service.
  • New bus routes that connect RTAs and the MBTA.
  • Expanded mobility options for older adults, people with disabilities and low-income individuals.

Improved and expanded ferry services=$26.2 million.

Roads and Bridges=$359.15 million

Construction and reconstruction of municipal roads and bridges=$45 million.

Repair of state bridges=$50 million.

Snow and ice removal=$60.7 million.

Transportation Infrastructure=$872.4 million

Dedicated funding to finance bonds to support capital transportation infrastructure investments at MassDOT, the MBTA and RTAs=$800 million.

Matching funds for state or municipal transportation projects eligible for federal funding=$25 million.

Transportation improvements surrounding the 2026 World Cup=$5 million.

Local, one-time transportation projects=$42.2 million.

Fair Share revenues have reached $1.8 billion, dramatically exceeding expectations for this fiscal year

MTA members helped win:
  • Universal school meals for every child.
  • A move toward free community college.
  • More money for school and college buildings.
  • Rebuilding of the MBTA, regional bus routes and local roads and bridges.

And these developments are just in the first year!

Along with our partners in the Raise Up Massachusetts coalition, the MTA celebrates the state reporting that revenues from the Fair Share Amendment are dramatically exceeding the expectations of the Legislature in its FY24 budget.

The news that Fair Share has produced upward of $1.8 billion in the current fiscal year and is on track to generate a total of $2 billion once the year is complete, was a thrilling vindication of the commitment MTA members and our union made in passing an additional income tax on multimillionaires and billionaires so we can invest in our public schools and colleges and transportation systems.

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