NEW: Governor Baker Signs $43 Billion Budget Into Law
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
“The Fiscal Year 2020 budget will allow the Commonwealth to take another step toward providing the necessary resources to continue implementing the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission, and we look forward to working with the Legislature on a bill that modernizes the Chapter 70 school finance formula and provides new tools and resources to ensure that this significant investment leads to better outcomes for all Massachusetts children, especially those in our highest-need communities,” said Baker.
He added, “This budget also makes law the product of a bipartisan compromise to create a program to control the rising costs of prescription drug prices, saving taxpayers millions.”
As part of the budget-signing, Governor Baker signed 99 outside sections and returned 9 to the Legislature with proposed amendments.
The Budget
The budget includes $5.2 billion for Chapter 70 aid, an increase of $268 million over Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19).
According to the Governor’s office, the budget represents an approximately 3.3% increase in spending over estimated spending in Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19). The total $43.321 billion in spending excludes certain trust fund transfers.
The budget includes $1.1 billion in unrestricted local aid for cities and towns, up $183 million since Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15).
Other budget highlights are as follows:
Education
- A total of $1.1 B in funding for the University of Massachusetts, state universities, and community colleges
- $106 M for scholarship assistance
- $345 M for special education circuit-breaker funding for cities and towns
- $76 M for regional school transportation
- $20 M to fund a rate increase for state-subsidized early education and child-care providers
- $2.5 M for Early College programs
- $1.5 M for the STEM Pipeline Fund to expand work-based learning opportunities for high school students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Support for Cities and Towns
- $5.2 B for Chapter 70 education aid
- $1.1 B for Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA)
- $3 M for District Local Technical Assistance to support regionalization projects
Substance Misuse
- Total of $246 M in funding across several state agencies (not including MassHealth) including:
- $172 M for Department of Public Health substance misuse prevention and treatment services, a $13 million increase above FY19 spending
- $19 M for medication-assisted treatment within correctional facilities
- $3 M to continue funding for Recovery High Schools
Transportation
- $698 M for transportation overall, including MassDOT operations, the MBTA, and Regional Transit Authorities
- A $1.1 B sales tax transfer, in addition to $127 million in operating budget support, for the MBTA
- $90.5 M for Regional Transit Authorities, which includes $3.5 million in funding expressly tied to performance metrics
Energy and Environment
- $5 M in increased funding for the Department of Public Utilities’ Pipeline Safety Division
- Increased assessment on utility distribution companies to fund more pipeline inspectors at the Department of Public Utilities
- $2.2 M for Climate Adaptation and Preparedness
Housing
- $179 M in emergency assistance funding to provide shelter to homeless families
- $110 M for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher (MRVP) program
- $72 M for Local Housing Authorities (LHAs)
- $53 M for homeless shelters serving individuals
- $4 M in new funding to expand ADA-accessible units within the homeless shelter system
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention
- $80 M across several agencies, a 25% increase in funding since 2015, including funding to provide emergency shelter to victims of domestic violence and their children
Other Health and Human Services
- $1.1 B for the Department of Children and Families, representing an increase of $193 M since FY15
- $902 M for the Department of Mental Health, including $10 M trust for behavioral health access, outreach, and support
- $50 M gross ($25 M net) for an increase in nursing home rates
- $10.2 M for the Safe and Successful Youth initiative
- Fully funds the Department of Developmental Services’ Turning 22 program at $25 M
- Adopts the Administration’s proposal to disregard the value of a single vehicle when calculating eligibility for the TAFDC program
Workforce and Economic Development
- $7 M for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund
- $3.1 M for Small Business Technical Assistance grants
- $2.5 M for the Urban Agenda grant program, including targeted workforce development programs for Black and Latino young adults
- $1 M for Learn to Earn
- Transfer of any FY19 consolidated net surplus to the Community Preservation Trust Fund ($20 M) and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center ($10 M)
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
- Funding to implement requirements of the criminal justice reform law, including $2 M for increased staffing at the State Police Crime Lab to meet the new 30-day testing requirement for Sexual Assault Evidence (SAEK) kits, an increase in funding for the Parole Board to support an anticipated higher caseload of individual newly released into supervision, and additional funding for education, mental health, and medical staff at the Department of Correction
- $11 M for Shannon grants to communities to reduce gang violence
- $9 M for medication-assisted treatment within the Department of Correction
- $4.8 M for mental and behavioral staff within the Department of Correction to address the requirements of criminal justice reform
- $4.5 M for a new class of at least 100 State Police recruits
- $3.2 M to operate a new Southeast Fire Training Academy in Bridgewater (the Administration included $10 M in authorization for construction of the facility in its General Governmental Bond Bill)
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