State Budget News - on to the Senate

HOUSE finalizes $26.9 billion budget

 

On Friday afternoon, April 27th, the Mass. House unanimously approved a $26.9 billion fiscal 2008 budget, with roughly $170 million in spending added above and beyond dollars approved by the House Ways and Mean Committee.

 

Some funds to disability line items were raised, but not as high as advocates had hoped - see The Arc of Massachusetts' platform (PDF).

 

The EOHHS salary reserve was increased to $20 million.
 

No new funds were added to the community residential account, but four separate earmarks reduced the total available by $750,000.

 

$1 million was added to the turning Twenty Two line item (5920-5000) for those students turning twenty-two this year (originally $6.5 million in House Ways and Means, $7.5 million with amendment). The annualization for the '09 budget is $14.6 million (originally $13.6 million in House Ways and Means).  

 

Kudos for Rep. Tom Sannicandro for delivering the news personally to The Arc's annual meeting last week in support of the T-22 dollars.

 

An additional $500,000 was restored to community-based day/work. Family Support was increased only for a $50,000 earmark. Autism division received a $250,000 increase (5920-3010), but $200,000 was earmarked, so it only realizes $50,000 growth.

 

We will be continuing our analysis in the next few days. 

 

State Senators will be meeting with the Senate Ways & Means Committee next week, so it is critical that you contact your Senator to request his/support of our priorities.  Stay tuned for action steps.

                                                              

                                                                  Final FY2008 House Budget

 

Line Item

Description

Actual FY2007

Adjustments

*

Level funding $$$

Guv's FY08

Final House FY08

Diff between Level funding & Final House

House

Earmarks

**

5911-1003

Admin/Reg. & Area Offices

$72,481,274

$3,308,621

$75,789,895

73,677,966

$73,256,467

-$2,533,428

$30,000

5911-2000

Transportation

$14,052,195

$85,129

$14,137,324

$767,435,196

$13,972,324

-$165,000

 

5920-2000

Community Residential

$523,866,210

$25,291,426

$549,157,636

$185,686,848

$549,157,636

$0

$750,000

5920-2006

Residential Rate Initiative

$2,000,000

$0

$2,000,000

 

$2,000,000

$0

 

5920-2010

State Ops.

$129,645,646

$1,319,098

$130,964,744

 

$130,964,744

$0

 

5920-2020

Boulet/Waiting List

$86,476,553

$1,336,259

$87,812,812

 

$87,812,812

$0

 

5920-2025

Day/Employment

$117,738,430

$5,439,281

$123,177,711

 

$121,981,711

-$1,196,000

$100,000

5920-3000

Family Supports

$53,094,228

$2,277,146

$55,371,374

 

$55,421,374

$50,000

$50,000

5920-3010

Autism Division

$3,000,000

$2,672

$3,002,672

$3,002,672

$3,252,672

$250,000

$200,000

5920-5000

Turning 22

$8,500,000

$0

$8,500,000

$5,500,000

$7,500,000

-$1,000,000

 

5930-1000

State Schools

$181,928,891

$1,672,213

$183,601,104

$180,430,895

$182,759,388

-$841,716

 

5982-1000

Templeton Retained

$100,000

$0

$100,000

$100,000

$100,000

$0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$1,192,883,427

$40,731,845

$1,233,615,272

$1,215,833,577

$1,228,179,128

-$5,436,144

$1,130,000

Non-DMR

 

 

 

 

 

1599-6901

EOHHS Salary Reserve

 

 

$28,000,000

$12,000,000

$20,000,000

-$8,000,000

 

5948-0012

DOE/DMR

 

 

$8,000,000

$8,000,000

$8,000,000

$0

 

 

* Includes annualized funds such as previous year’s T-22, EOHHS Salary Reserve (DMR portion), Rolland, etc.

  

Governor’s Consolidation

 

Governor’s Consolidation

 

 

                        ** DMR Earmarks

   Amount

Whole Children, Inc. of Hadley

$30,000

TOTAL (Admin/Reg. & Area Offices)

$30,000

 

 

Life Focus Center, Charlestown

$100,000

TOTAL (Day/Work)

$100,000

 

 

Special Olympics

$100,000

Best Buddies

$500,000

Grow Associates, Avon

$100,000

Advocacy Resource Center, New Bedford

$50,000

TOTAL (Community Residential)

$750,000

 

Friendship Home project in Norwell

$50,000

TOTAL (Family Supports)

$50,000

 

Melmark New England

$200,000

TOTAL (Autism)

$200,000