09-04-2025
Final budget hearing features Amherst high schoolers
BOSTON (WWLP) – State lawmakers held their final fiscal year 2026 budget hearing, and it was the only one to accept testimony from non-experts, ranging from high schoolers to activists from communities across the Commonwealth.
Each citizen who testified focused on advocating for their needs in the fiscal year 2026 budget and issues spanned from taxes to climate change to liberal arts education to food security.
Some testified on matters of life and death. The mother of a 15-year-old who was killed in gang crossfire spoke on behalf of her organization that supports survivors of homicide victims, asking for more funding to continue their work.
'Families are still being devastated, homicide knows no boundaries, it knows no culture, no class, and no communities,' said Clementina Chéry, founder of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute.
She says this organization is especially crucial in the state's largest cities with the highest homicide rates, including Springfield and Holyoke. Others testified for education funding–Amherst high schoolers advocated for funding for electives and spoke about their important place in holistic growth.
'With budget cuts threatening the existence of electives, students are losing more than just classes. We are losing passion, motivation, and opportunities that could shape our futures,' said Amherst Regional High School Student Yatharth Rajakumar.
Lawmakers have spoken publicly about challenges with forming this year's budget due to uncertainty about federal funding, and it is likely very few budget items will receive the full scope of money they are requesting.
The House plans to release its version of the fiscal year 2026 budget next week, and the Senate will follow suit shortly after.
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