Hildreth Institute Urges Reassessment Of Fair Share Revenue Allocation To Better Support Public Higher Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Institute Cautions Against Diverting Fair Share Funds Away from Education, Calls for Greater Support of Public Higher Education

BOSTON, MA — February 21, 2025 — The Hildreth Institute today released a new policy brief urging Massachusetts leaders to reevaluate how Fair Share revenues are allocated. Drawing on historical data, the brief highlights the urgent need to address decades of underfunding for higher education and raises concerns about a growing trend of spending Fair Share revenues on initiatives not aligned with the constitutional mandate for “quality public education and affordable public colleges and universities.”

A key finding in the brief is the increasing share of Fair Share funds being directed to childcare—an essential service for working families but one that primarily functions as workforce support rather than core public education. 

The Hildreth Institute cautions that these funds should be used to truly strengthen public education, including post-secondary opportunities. However, under the Governor’s proposed supplemental and FY26 budget, only 10 percent of Fair Share funds would go toward public higher education—an amount that falls well short of addressing historical underfunding or ensuring long-term sustainability.

In alignment with the Board of Higher Education's recommendation, the Hildreth Institute recommends allocating at least 25%—and up to 33%—of Fair Share funds to public higher education. "This is about more than meeting legal mandates—it’s about investing in our state’s future leaders and innovators," Bahar Akman Imboden, the institute’s managing director added. "Enhancing funding for higher education is a crucial step toward maintaining Massachusetts' competitive edge and ensuring that our education system meets the needs of all students."

For further information or to access the full policy brief, please visit www.hildrethinstitute.org or contact news@hildrethinstitute.org