When President Trump slashed Dudley’s $2.5 million of Federal funds that had been specifically earmarked and requested by Congressman Richard Neal for Dudley’s Brandon Road/Hill Street   bridge project, local residents were furious. They felt that the bridge construction would now languish in limbo and that a safe passage to Webster for residents, ambulances, and fire apparatus would never be seen again for years on end. The bridge passage from Hill Street in Webster to Brandon Road in Dudley has been out of service since 2021 resulting in traffic congestion, prevention of emergency vehicle access, and harm to local businesses.

Dudley Town Administrator, Jon Ruda, worked tirelessly appealing to Federal and state legislators to secure alternate bridge funding and with the assistance of State Senator Fattman and State Representatives Marsi and McKenna, $600,000 in state funds have been secured toward the current estimated cost of $1.3 million for a temporary bridge from the Mass. DOT. According to Town Administrator Ruda, the remaining costs will be covered by additional state and Chapter 90 funds. The $600,000 funding was allocated from the Massachusetts’ Millionaires’ Tax.

In 2022, Massachusetts’ voters approved the Fair Share Amendment which added a constitutional change that created a 4% surtax on annual taxable income exceeding $1 million. This surcharge is in addition to the Commonwealth’s 5% flat income tax rate and is referred to as the “Millionaires’ Tax.” The funds generated by this tax are designated for public education and transportation initiatives.