Briefing: State Budget Cuts
Making an appearance at the 23rd New England Business Expo in Worcester, Gov. Deval Patrick recently announced his plan to close a $600 million mid-year budget gap. While the governor’s speech was preceded by remarks of praise for Central Massachusetts from City Manager Michael O’Brien and others, Patrick’s announcement was a sobering reminder that the state (and country’s) economic condition is still dire.
What is being cut?
State government will be cut by $352 million under the governor’s plan, with $277 million to be cut from the executive branch. The remaining $75 million will be cut from non-executive branch agencies such as the legislature, judiciary, constitutional officers, sheriffs and district attorneys.
How are state jobs affected?
The governor said 2,000 state jobs could be cut, which would produce an additional $35 million in savings. He has asked unions to agree to contract revisions, which would reduce the total number of layoffs.
Patrick is also requiring approximately 4,000 executive branch managers to take up to nine furlough days through the remainder of the fiscal year.
What other cuts and reforms were announced?
On the heels of other policy changes, including pension reforms and the elimination of the Turnpike Authority, announced earlier this year, Patrick pledged to eliminate the $5 million Quinn Bill program and filed a proposal that would find a better way to provide educational advancement opportunities to law enforcement officers.
The governor also eliminated Bunker Hill and Evacuation Days, which previously existed as paid holidays granted only to state employees working in Suffolk County.
What was preserved?
While Patrick announced much in the way of cuts, he did vow to preserve the following: $970 million for state colleges, $4.037 billion in state education aid, $16 million for universal pre-K and Head Start programs, $936 million for local aid to cities and towns, $10 million for Department of Mental Health club houses, funding for family shelters, rental vouches and local housing authorities, and eligibility for MassHealth and Commonwealth Care.
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