Rep. Linda Dean Campbell had her Methuen and Haverhill constituency in mind when advocating for fiscal budget provisions at the Statehouse. (File photograph)
More funding for Haverhill and Methuen is on the way. Following a week of budget negotiations and debate at the Statehouse, Rep. Linda Dean Campbell’s amendments pertaining to the downtown development of Methuen, Merrimack River-area and other city public works projects were incorporated into the state’s 2019 budget.
This funding is on top of money she advocated for relating to civics education and substance and mental health services. Campbell also collaborated with Haverhill Rep. Andy Vargas to secure $250,000 earmarked to pay off the city’s Hale Hospital debt.
As Methuen’s downtown restructuring project known as 40R continues to take shape, the $60,000 secured by Campbell will assist in the implementation of signage and other navigation improvements. The same amount has been set aside for Merrimack River public access, with the City of Methuen able to purchase additional land along the river to be zoned for community access purposes.
The $40.2 billion budget passed by the House of Representatives also included $82 million in transit money and more than $2 million in Chapter 90 funding for local road repairs in both Methuen and Haverhill.
The finalized budget now heads to the Senate for final approval.