Worcester County, MASS-- A local state senator said important funding promised to his district is on pause. The fiscal year 2026 General Appropriations Act signed into law last month includes money earmarked for cities and towns across Massachusetts. State Senator Peter Durant who represents the Worcester Hampshire district, said the Healey administration is now delaying the funding until the fall, citing the state's current fiscal position.  Durant said the Governor is sidelining local priorities and leaving his district in limbo.

"These earmarks are things like firetrucks, police cruisers, public safety and infrastructure earmarks,” Durant said. “These are things our towns rely on that they need to have come in to provide this safety and those community developments. It’s not just about having a festival, it’s not about having some kind of quick fix thing that doesn’t mean anything to anybody. These are serious projects we need taken care of.”

Durant said this delay is happening statewide and the Governor does have the power to do it. The funding will be re-assessed in the fall and has the chance of being cut altogether.