Thoughts on Day One of Senate Budget Debate
Each year, every Senator meets with the Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair to highlight critical budget priorities. While I continue to advocate for passing a progressive tax package, to invest more in our communities and critical programs, stimulate the economy, and avoid budget cuts, this budget proposal is stronger than many of us had expected. Provided below are a few highlights in areas that I advocated for: food insecurity, housing supports, combating racial injustice, strengthening the judicial system, and funding our K-12 public schools. I welcome your feedback, as the Senate debates 473 amendments this week, and the House of Representatives and State Senate work together to pass a budget to put on Governor Baker’s desk. Thank you!
Food Insecurity
$30M for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, an increase of $10M over the FY 2020 GAA.
$13M for the Healthy Incentives Program, doubling the $6.5M funding level in the FY 2020 GAA
Housing Supports
$50M for RAFT, an increase of $33.7M over the FY 2020 GAA (Paired with federal resources and supplemental funding provided by the Legislature in the summer, there is currently more than $130M in resources for RAFT in FY 2021)
$135M for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, an increase of $25M over the FY 2020 GAA
$75M for housing authorities, an increase of $3M over the FY 2020 GAA
$12M for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program, (an increase of $4.5M over the FY 2020 GAA)
Racial Justice
$15M for a new Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant Program to provide grants to communities for job creation and training, transitional employment supports, small business development tools, and safety net supports.
$6.5M for the Justice Reinvestment Reserve covering recommendations from the Council of State Governments
Strengthening the Judicial System
$29M for the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, an increase of $5M over the FY 2020 GAA.
$2.2M for Prisoners’ Legal Services, an increase of $182K over the FY2020 GAA.
$256.2M for CPCS, an increase of $19.3M over the FY 2020 GAA to fully fund these accounts.
K-12 Public Schools
$5.284B for Chapter 70, an increase $107.6M over FY 2020. (level-funding)
$345.2M for special education circuit breaker, providing 75% reimbursement for instructional costs.
$82.2M for regional school transportation, an increase of $6.3M over the FY 2020 GAA and representing 85% reimbursement.