Fair Share Funds for Climate Zero and Deferred Maintenance
OPEN LETTER TO CHANCELLOR REYES AND GOVERNOR HEALEY
18 November 2024
Dear Governor Healey and Chancellor Reyes,
We, the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Society of Professors, representing the dedicated faculty and librarians at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, write to you with a shared commitment to the advancement and sustainability of our beloved institution and the broader educational landscape of our state.
Last year, the Fair Share Amendment—a 4% surtax on annual incomes exceeding $1 million—was enacted. The law will generate an unprecedented revenue stream of $2 billion per year, including a one-time surplus of $1.2 billion this past year (above the $1 billion budgeted by the legislature). The funds are earmarked exclusively for public transit and public education. This financial boon presents a unique opportunity for collaborative action between the state government and the UMass Amherst administration.
UMass Amherst currently faces a daunting $1.75 billion in deferred maintenance, coupled with our formal commitment to achieving “Carbon Zero” by 2032, as declared on Earth Day 2022. These intertwined challenges present a clear path forward: deploy Fair Share funds to address shovel-ready projects that not only mitigate carbon emissions but also rectify longstanding maintenance deficits.
The UMass Amherst campus is recognized as the largest emitter of carbon dioxide among Massachusetts state agencies. The university's progress toward Carbon Zero is pivotal for the state to meet its comprehensive decarbonization objectives. Allocating a substantial portion of the Fair Share funds toward expanding our heat-exchange and solar infrastructure, alongside essential energy conservation and efficiency upgrades, is imperative. The existing FY24–28 Capital Plan outlines 48 planned projects with a budget of $955 million that align with these environmental commitments.
The urgent need to address deferred maintenance cannot be overstated. Ignoring maintenance not only creates unhealthy environments for students and employees, it also dramatically increases future costs. To fully rectify deferred maintenance deficiencies over the next fifteen years, an annual investment of an additional $116 million is necessary.
Federal funds are available if the Commonwealth acts now. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers valuable federal funding for building retrofits and energy improvements. Prudent financial stewardship would enable the university to avert further debt accumulation and reallocate resources towards enhancing instructional programs and expanding our academic staff.
The Massachusetts Society of Professors is eager to collaborate with both the Governor’s office and the UMass Amherst administration to ensure that these funds are effectively utilized to benefit our campus community and the broader goals of public education and environmental sustainability. By working together, we can ensure that UMass Amherst not only meets its maintenance obligations but also leads the charge in achieving a carbon-neutral future.
We look forward to constructive dialogue and partnership in these endeavors.
Sincerely,
The MSP Executive Committee (Kate Hudson, Jacquie Kurland, Marc Liberatore, Asha Nadkarni, Sigrid Schmalzer, Eve Weinbaum, and Kevin Young)