(BOSTON 8/3/2023) — This week, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted a $56.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), reconciling differences between the versions of the budget passed by the House of Representatives and Senate and earlier this year. The FY24 conference committee report provides for historic levels of investment in education, housing, regional transportation, health care, workforce development, and more, as part of a broad strategy to grow our state’s economy and make Massachusetts more affordable, inclusive, and competitive.

“The single most important thing we can do as legislators is make investments that will pay dividends for years down the road. By choosing to invest in the Commonwealth’s people, services, industry, and infrastructure, we are doing exactly that with the passage of the FY24 Budget,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m pleased that my colleagues and I were able to come together to make smart, targeted, and responsible investments in the parts of the Commonwealth that need it the most. I’m also thrilled that I was able to secure 14 amendments, including local earmarks for each and every community in the Second Worcester District. I’d like to thank Senate President Karen Spilka, House Speaker Ron Mariano, and my House and Senate colleagues for their leadership during this budget debate.”

The FY24 budget includes a total of $56.2 billion in spending, a $3.8 billion increase over the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Budget. This spending recommendation is based on a tax revenue estimate of $40.41 billion for FY24, representing 1.6 percent growth with an additional $1 billion from the new Fair Share surtax, as agreed upon during the consensus revenue process in January.

Remaining vigilant about the current fiscal environment, the FY24 budget adheres to sound fiscal discipline and builds up available reserves for the state’s stabilization fund. The fund has grown to a record high of $7.16 billion and is projected to close FY24 at $9.5 billion, ensuring the Commonwealth will continue to have healthy reserves to maintain fiscal responsibility during a time of ongoing economic volatility.

Amendments secured by Senator Moore include:

Statewide

Expanding access to contraceptives – authorizes local pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives when appropriate, based on rules to be determined by the Department of Public Health
REDO Funding Guardrails – requires at least 75 percent of funding allocated to Regional Economic Development Organizations (REDOs) is used by REDOs themselves, and not for state-directed “special projects”
Accelerated Repair Program Spending Cap Exemption – exempts the Accelerated Repair Program from the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s statutory spending cap
$1.526 million to fund Court-Appointed Special Advocate programs across the Commonwealth, including $430,000 for these programs in Worcester County
$400,000 in additional funding for hate crime prevention programs in elementary and secondary public schools in Massachusetts, bringing the total funding to $800,000
$100,000 for Bottom Line, Inc to support its college transition and retention services for low-income and first-generation college students
$200,000 to fund updated sound tests along Massachusetts’ highway sound barriers

Regional

$500,000 in additional funding for the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, bringing the total funding to $2 million
$83,000 to Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical School to remove and replace a 30-year-old underground storage tank; $25,000 is provided by Senator Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton)
$40,000 to the Lake Quinsigamond Commission to manage invasive plants, monitor water quality, provide educational opportunities, and upgrade waterway navigation markers

Auburn

$20,000 to Auburn Youth and Family Services for building improvements
$25,000 to the Town of Auburn to purchase a public safety dispatch digital recorder

Grafton

$47,000 to Community Harvest Project in Grafton to purchase a tractor to continue to harvest fresh produce for local food banks

Millbury

$5,000 to Millbury Public Schools to support the Millbury Carpentry Partnership Program
$30,000 to Millbury Public Schools to support the Advanced Manufacturing and Computer Science Program
$35,000 to the Town of Millbury to fund building improvements at Millbury Town Hall

Shrewsbury

$35,000 to Dean Park in Shrewsbury for ADA accessibility improvements

Westborough

$45,000 to the Town of Westborough to purchase security cameras for Westborough Town Hall and Westborough Senior Center

Worcester

$100,000 to CENTRO Inc in Worcester for the operation of their Minority Economic Empowerment and Home Ownership Center
$60,000 to the City of Worcester to support additional emergency housing for unsheltered families in Worcester

Notable Investments and Policy

Invests Fair Share Amendment money
- $522 million will go toward education initiatives
- $477 million will go toward transportation initiatives, including $205 million for the MBTA
Implements the Student Opportunity Plan
- Guarantees in-state tuition at public colleges and universities for all residents, including undocumented individuals
- Funds free community college for nursing students and students 25 and older
- Lays the groundwork for universal free community college by fall 2024
Makes the universal free school meal program permanent
Makes COVID-era eviction protections permanent
Requires no-cost calls for individuals who are incarcerated
Creates a two-year ConnectorCare program pilot to expand affordable health insurance coverage to as many as 70,000 additional residents
Allocates $581 million for tax relief, with a plan on the way
Proposes adding seats for Boston and surrounding communities on the MBTA Board of Directors

Having passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, the FY24 budget now moves to the Governor’s desk for her consideration.

###