Healey-Driscoll Administration Files Fiscal Year 2024 Supplemental Budget to Maintain Vital Programs

Healey-Driscoll Administration Files Fiscal Year 2024 Supplemental Budget to Maintain Vital Programs  

Bill proposes to address health and human services staffing, early education access, and services for victims of violent crimes 

 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll administration today filed a supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2024 that would put additional money into human services staffing and programs, address caseload-driven shortfalls in food security spending and make clarifying technical updates to streamline the implementation of existing statutes. 

This legislation directs targeted resources at the state’s most time-sensitive deficiencies, using available federal reimbursements and other resources to minimize the net cost to the state and to manage Fiscal Year 2024 spending responsibly. The bill proposes $534.7 million in gross new spending at a net cost to the state of $88.5 million after offsets. 

“This budget bill represents necessary spending mid-way through the fiscal year to maintain critical services and programs and some of our most vulnerable residents,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It is both affordable and time sensitive given the need to provide assurances to our seniors, mothers with infants, and victims of crimes that the programs and services they rely on will be fully supported and staffed for the remainder of the year." 

“In addition to needed mid-year funding, this legislation proposes important statutory changes that will streamline the procurement of electric vehicles and charging stations, allow for new long-term ice rink leases and ensure that the state leaves no federal ARPA money on the table,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.  

The bill proposes $61 million ($45.8 million net) for a Critical Health and Human Services and Workforce Reserve to cover projected deficiencies in Fiscal Year 2024 related to the continued need for direct care staffing to respond to health needs in our nursing homes, group care settings, state hospitals, and Soldiers’ Homes, as well as other patient health and safety supports. 

 

The supplemental budget also includes $228 million (no net cost to the state) in investments supported fully by federal Home and Community-Based Services resources from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to promote innovative services that enhance the quality of life and independence of people in their home and community. 

 

Another $29.7 million would go toward early education and care subsidies to ensure that providers are able to maintain access for all income-eligible families in need of child care, $5.1 million would support increased demand for the Healthy Incentives Program, which provides fresh, healthy food options and supports our local growers, and $2.1 million would be used for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition services to fully support the current caseload of recipients. 

 

Other key appropriations include: 

·           $175.5 million for supplemental payments to safety net hospitals through the Medical Assistance Trust Fund, which are wholly offset by federal reimbursements 

·           $20 million in repurposed ARPA funding for a bridge to stabilize critical victim service programs throughout the Commonwealth and ensure continued access to trauma-informed services in light of decreased federal funding through the Victims of Crime Act 

·           $5.6 million to reimburse municipalities for tax abatements associated with veterans, widows, persons who are blind, and seniors 

“This funding is both necessary and affordable at this time to maintain critical services while we continue to monitor revenue collections and spending across state government. We are confident that the state can afford to make these investments in our health care workforce, food safety net and other important programs, and the administration has worked hard to minimize the impact to the state budget by maximizing other resources, including federal dollars,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. 

 

Additionally, notable outside sections of the budget include: 

·           Allowing the Operational Services Division (OSD) to jointly procure electric vehicles and charging stations, which will further empower OSD to assist in the state’s efforts to electrify fleets at the state and municipal level. 

·           Permitting the Department of Conservation and Recreation to enter into new long-term leases, up to 30 years, for the operations of ice rinks that are presently under long-term leases with upcoming expiration dates. 

·           Providing technical updates to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s statutes to ensure alignment with best practices. 

·           Amending several ARPA-supported programs to repurpose $19.4 million in unspent funds – largely from completed programs that came in under budget – to ensure the state has sufficient flexibility to obligate ARPA funds before federal deadlines. 

To access the Governor’s filing letter and the supplement budget click here. 

$5.6 million to reimburse municipalities for tax abatements associated with veterans, widows, persons who are blind, and seniors “This funding is both necessary and affordable at this time to maintain critical services while we continue to monitor revenue collections and spending across state government. We are confident that the state can afford to make these investments in our health care workforce, food safety net and other important programs, and the administration has worked hard to minimize the impact to the state budget by maximizing other resources, including federal dollars,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. 

Additionally, notable outside sections of the budget include: 

Allowing the Operational Services Division (OSD) to jointly procure electric vehicles and charging stations, which will further empower OSD to assist in the state’s efforts to electrify fleets at the state and municipal level. 

Permitting the Department of Conservation and Recreation to enter into new long-term leases, up to 30 years, for the operations of ice rinks that are presently under long-term leases with upcoming expiration dates. 

Providing technical updates to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s statutes to ensure alignment with best practices. 

Amending several ARPA-supported programs to repurpose $19.4 million in unspent funds – largely from completed programs that came in under budget – to ensure the state has sufficient flexibility to obligate ARPA funds before federal deadlines. 

To access the Governor’s filing letter and the supplement budget click here.