Legislature Passes Balanced FY17 Budget

Focuses on protecting the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens

Representative Paul J. Donato (D-Medford) joined his colleagues in the Legislature to pass a $39.145 billion budget that prioritizes the needs of municipalities and protects funding that supports those most in need, especially individuals grappling with addiction, homelessness and the Commonwealth’s children.

The spending bill reflects an active response to an unpredictable revenue shortfall through responsible and forward-looking solutions.

“I’m proud that in the midst of a tough economic climate, we came to an agreement on a fiscally-responsible budget that minimizes cuts and protects our most vulnerable citizens,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) said.

“The conference report on the fiscal year 2017 budget represents a fiscally responsible solution to the challenges of our uncertain fiscal climate,” said Brian S. Dempsey (D- Haverhill), Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means. “We have taken the necessary actions to address the unforeseen revenue shortfall through a balanced approach of measured cuts and common sense solves. It is important to highlight, even in the face of these difficulties, that this is still a budget that delivers on your priorities and the priorities of your districts with increased resources going to Local aid, chapter 70, services to our neediest constituents and those struggling with addictions.”

“The final Fiscal Year 2017 budget represents a truly collaborative effort between the Baker-Polito Administration, the House and the Senate to address the unanticipated shortfall in state revenues,” said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading). “The conference committee members responded to this challenge by producing a balanced budget that not only contains significant increases in local aid for our cities and towns, but also reflects many of the priorities of the members, without imposing new taxes or fees. Moving forward, it is important that we continue to closely monitor revenues and focus on making sure they are being spent effectively and efficiently on behalf of the state’s taxpayers.”

“The Legislature produced a balanced budget that prioritized the most important programs for our cities and residents”, said Representative Paul J. Donato. “We will continue to monitor out financial stability to make educated decisions in the future”.

Although the Commonwealth was faced with an unforeseeable decrease in tax revenue, the Legislature was able to maintain its record-high investments in local aid. The final budget increases both local education funding and Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), boosting UGGA by 4.3 percent. It provides $55 in per-pupil-aid, more than doubling last year’s expenditure, and fully funds Special Education Circuit Breaker.

In addition to local education funding, the Legislature continues to emphasize to the impact that high-quality Early Education and Care (EEC) has on the lives of our residents – both children and adults – by making targeted investments to support the EEC workforce while expanding access to high-quality programming. EEC investments include a $12.5 million rate reserve, $4M to ensure access to quality EEC programming, including continued support for pre-kindergarten expansion opportunities.

Recognizing that education and economic development are intrinsically paired, the budget enhances the Legislature’s focus on bolstering job opportunities for residents of all skillsets in diverse regions of the Commonwealth through programs including:

– Invests $2 million in the Big Data Innovation and Workforce Fund, to promote the big data and analytics industries, provide tools for related career development and explore how analytics can help address problems of public concern;

– MassCAN: $1.7 million to establish and enhance widespread, progressive computer science curriculum in public school through a public-private matching program;

– Provides $1 million for technical grants for small business;

– Talent Pipeline: $1.5 million to encourage young innovators to get a head start on their futures by matching stipends for interns at innovation start-ups, and to provide mentoring opportunities for new entrepreneurs;

– Provides $1 million for the John Adams Innovation Institute;

– Continues to fund the Massachusetts Manufacturing Partnership, a program that continues to show results in closing the skills gap.

Since FY12, the Legislature has increased funding for substance addiction services by more than 65 percent and passed two landmark bills to help address this public health epidemic. This year’s budget makes notable investments for behavioral health, including new funding of more than $27 million for the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services which will open an estimated 125 residential treatment beds and:

– $3.1 million for Recovery High Schools;

– $1 million for the Substance Abuse Trust Fund;

– $1 million for the Attorney General to fund programs designed to combat opioid addiction;

– $3 million for Medication Assisted Therapy in emergency rooms.

In additional to behavioral health and substance addiction initiatives, the FY17 budget features numerous provisions to support Massachusetts’ most vulnerable citizens including:

– Increases the Department of Children & Families’ budget by more than $33.1 million to support more than 600 recent hires, including 281 new hires for FY17.

– Increases the Department of Developmental Services’ budget by almost $44 million;

– Boosts funding for Family Respite Services to assist an addition 3,000 families;

– Provides more than $30 million for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and treatment programs;

– Increases the Councils on Aging formula grant to $10 per individual, per year.

The Legislature has a longstanding history of enacting effective programs to combat homelessness. As of March 31, 2016, Massachusetts’ shelter population fell below 4,000 for the first time since August of 2013; and the number of families in hotels and motels has dropped by more than 1,500. This year the House continues to enhance its efforts by providing:

– More than $155 million for the Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Program;

– $85.3 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program;

– About $32 million for the HomeBASE program.

The budget is now before the Governor.

– Submitted by State Rep. Paul Donato