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Governor Vetoes Several Disability Accounts, Leaves Initiatives in Place
On Sunday, July 13, Governor Deval Patrick vetoed $122.5 Million in the 2009 Conference Committee Budget, including $2.6 million worth of funding for disability programs and services. At the same time, by signing the budget, Patrick agreed to change the name of the DMR to the Department of Developmental Services and to increase the Turning 22, Family Support, DOE-DMR, and Autism line items. The Salary Reserve, Community First & Early Intervention line items remained intact. (See below for detailed chart.) The Governor’s vetoes in the MRC budget appear to target earmarks that benefit a particular neighborhood or provider. However, in the DDS (formerly DMR) budget, all but one of his vetoes reduce services or limit DDS's ability to address wait lists. His vetoes in the DDS budget are as follows: - 5920-2000 Residential Services: Patrick vetoed $600,000, bringing this account back to the Governor’s House 2 budget proposal. This means a cut of $543,000, which translates to 20 to 25 people losing services and the closure of approximately six group homes.
- 5920-2006 Residential Rate: Patrick vetoed $250,000, eliminating the House's proposed increase which was then adopted in Conference Committee. This funding supplements Residential Services.
- 5920-3010 Autism Division: Patrick vetoed $1,000,000, which is taken from the waiver spending (see below for language).
- 5930-1000 State Schools: Patrick vetoed $751,545, leaving the account slightly higher than his original budget figure. However, this cut would shortfund the state facilities $4 million.
To view the reductions against the authorized amount in the Legislature’s budget please go here. Language change with autism line item:
"; provided, that not less than $3,000,000 [Governor’s veto language; Conference Committee had this figure at $4,000,000] shall be expended for the purposes of providing services under the children's autism Medicaid waiver application submitted pursuant to chapter 107 of the acts of 2005 to be contingent upon the maximization of federal reimbursement for waiver services funded by the commonwealth" The Governor included these comments in his signing letter: “…I believe we should prepare now for trouble ahead. While the Massachusetts economy has so far outperformed the struggling national economy, experts project that worsening national economic circumstances, including rising energy costs, could cause state revenues to drop below budgeted estimates. Those same deteriorating circumstances portend increasing stresses on state programs to meet the needs of our citizens. This is particularly so for safety net services which play a fundamental role in protecting the well-being of the people of Commonwealth in difficult economic times.” He also outlined a five point plan including enhanced 9C authority in the coming year (9C authority allows the governor to withhold authorized spending although such reductions may be restored by the legislature).
| Gubernatorial Vetoes FY2009 Budget |
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| Line Item |
Description |
Governor's Request |
Final House |
Final Senate |
Final Conference Committee |
Governor's Vetoes |
Updated Budget (July 13) |
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| 5911-1003 |
Administration & Operations |
$74,522,766 |
$77,575,612 |
$73,213,906 |
$73,863,906 |
|
$73,863,906 |
| 5911-2000 |
Transportation |
$14,137,324 |
$14,137,324 |
$14,137,324 |
$14,137,324 |
|
$14,137,324 |
| 5920-2000 |
Community Residential |
$568,961,352 |
$569,334,202 |
$568,961,352 |
$569,561,352 |
(600,000) |
$568,961,352 |
| 5920-2006 |
Residential Rate Initiative |
$2,000,000 |
$2,250,000 |
$0 |
$2,250,000 |
(250,000) |
$2,000,000 |
| 5920-2010 |
State Operated Community |
$137,630,099 |
$136,245,115 |
$137,187,683 |
$137,437,683 |
|
$137,437,683 |
| 5920-2020 |
Boulet/Waiting List |
$88,340,110 |
$88,173,986 |
$87,971,902 |
$87,971,902 |
|
$87,971,902 |
| 5920-2025 |
Day/Employment |
$128,959,457 |
$128,959,457 |
$128,859,457 |
$129,159,457 |
|
$129,159,457 |
| 5920-3000 |
Family Supports |
$55,044,228 |
$55,294,228 |
$55,994,228 |
$56,094,228 |
|
$56,094,228 |
| 5920-3010 |
Autism Division |
$3,287,118 |
$5,421,753 |
$6,064,413 |
$6,264,413 |
(1,000,000) |
$5,264,413 |
| 5920-5000 |
Turning 22 |
$6,100,000 |
$7,700,000 |
$7,700,000 |
$7,700,000 |
|
$7,700,000 |
| 5930-1000 |
State Schools |
$188,217,948 |
$187,545,814 |
$186,997,359 |
$188,297,359 |
(751,545) |
$187,545,814 |
| 5948-0012* |
DOE/DDS |
$8,000,000 |
$8,000,000 |
$10,000,000 |
$10,000,000 |
|
$10,000,000 |
| 5982-1000 |
Templeton Retained |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
|
$150,000 |
| TOTAL |
|
$1,275,350,402 |
$1,280,787,491 |
$1,277,237,624 |
$1,282,887,624 |
(2,601,545) |
$1,280,286,079 |
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| Non-DDS Budget Items |
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|
|
| 4000-0117** |
EOHHS Salary Reserve |
$23,000,000 |
$23,000,000 |
$23,000,000 |
$23,000,000 |
|
$23,000,000 |
| 4000-0650 |
Community First Initiative |
$45,800,000 |
$15,000,000 |
$20,000,000 |
$20,000,000 |
|
$20,000,000 |
| 4513-1010 |
Early Interv |
$4,500,000 |
$4,500,000 |
6,500,000 |
$6,500,000 |
|
$6,500,000 |
| 4513-1020 |
Early Interv |
$38,237,286 |
$38,237,286 |
$42,936,049 |
$42,936,049
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$42,936,049
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| *DOE/DDS Program line-item in DOE budget is 7061-0012 |
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| **Salary Reserve line-item in Conference Committee and beyond is 1599-6901 |
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