Safety first: Saugus state delegation FY2024 budget wins for Saugus Police and Fire

The Saugus state delegation visited with Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli and Fire Chief Michael Newbury to see the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), budget line items in action and discuss the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) wins. The Legislature enacted a $56.2 billion budget for FY24 earlier this month, reconciling differences between the versions of the budget passed by the House of Representatives and Senate earlier this year. The FY24 Conference Committee report provides for historic levels of investment in education, housing, regional transportation, health care, workforce development and more, as part of a broad strategy to grow our state’s economy and make Massachusetts more affordable, inclusive and competitive.

Last year, some budget wins included an ATV for Saugus Fire, new radios and new traffic and security cameras. State Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), State Representatives Donald Wong (R-Saugus) and Jessica Ann Giannino (D-Revere) had an opportunity to see the items obtained and hear how critical they have been in situations like the Breakheart Reservation and Lynn Woods wildfires. This year, the delegation obtained the following Town of Saugus earmarks in the FY24 budget:

• $50,000 for CPR devices for Saugus Fire
• $50,000 for an emergency generator for Saugus Town Hall
• $50,000 for a boat for the Harbormaster
• $75,000 for 20 sets of bunker gear shorts
• $75,000 for an additional public safety radio repeater system for the middle-high school

“These investments will enhance our first responders’ capacity to respond effectively to emergencies and contribute to making Saugus a safer place for all,” said Senator Crighton. “I’m grateful for the collaborative work of our delegation and the dedication of Chief Ricciardelli, Chief Newbury, and their teams in ensuring the well-being of our community.”

“We are very grateful to the Saugus delegation for obtaining the much-needed funding in the town for public safety,” said Representative Wong.

“It is my priority to ensure that first responders have what they need to keep our community and themselves safe. I am thankful for the collaboration and hard work of the Saugus delegation during this year’s state budget process,” said Representative Giannino. “Multiple earmarks have been secured for the 2024 Fiscal Year which includes critical funding for first responders and investments in public safety in the Town of Saugus. I want to thank my colleagues, Representative Wong and Senator Crighton for their continued teamwork, support and dedication to our community.”

“We are very fortunate to have such a good relationship with our state representatives and state senator. Senator Crighton, Representatives Giannino and Wong have always been very attentive to the needs of our community. Year after year they continue to come through with some much-needed public safety earmarks for the Town of Saugus,” said Chief Ricciardelli.

  Having passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, the FY24 budget moved to the Governor’s desk for her consideration and was signed into law on Wednesday, August 9.