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READ: PowerPoint Presentation Summarizing Budget Investments
This budget is all about people, no matter the circumstances, and how we meet the needs of the most vulnerable among us. We focus on lifting people up, so everyone can take advantage of all our Commonwealth has to offer. Throughout the budget process, I felt like I could see the faces of the people in my community, and throughout Massachusetts. From the DCR ranger at Mt. Greylock, to the dishwasher working at a small restaurant in Mission Hill, this budget is about investing in people.
Funded at $40.983 billion, the House’s budget proposal maintains funding for key programs amidst a fragile revenue picture and uncertainty in Washington. It enables us to fund MassHealth, which provides health insurance for the frail, homeless, recovering, mothers with children, poor, and the working poor. Within MassHealth, we do not accept the Governor's proposal to shift 140,000 people to the Health Connector. The Governor's proposal did not guarantee protection of benefits and affordability, and we had concerns with ensuring continuity of care. MassHealth is an investment in the people of the Commonwealth.
Our budget allocates funds to help those struggling with substance use disorder, including enough money for 5 new recovery centers and a 150% increase to programs that divert people into treatment rather than jail. We make historic investments in mental health, ensuring we fully fund caseload so people can receive care. We empower the Department of Children and Families to continue its reforms, now that it has hired new social workers and managers to ensure children are protected in our communities.
In addition to these areas, the House Ways and Means budget proposal makes targeted investments in the area of housing. Since 2013, the House has steadily increased funding for permanent housing solutions, like the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) and Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT). As we’ve made these investments, the number of families and individuals living in homeless shelters, has decreased 26%, and the number of families living in motels and hotels has decreased to nearly zero. Building on the $1.7 billion housing bond bill the House passed earlier this year, this budget continues to fund permanent housing solutions. These combined efforts will help ensure stability and safety amidst record-high housing prices in Massachusetts.
The House budget puts tangible resources and funding to carry out policies and programs put in place by monumental criminal justice reform legislation passed in the House and Senate last week. In addition to the $3 million we set aside for the Council of State Governments bill in last year’s budget, we allocate another $3 million for evidence-based recidivism reduction programs. Known as Community-Based Re-Entry Programs, they can reduce the number of people going back to jail through workforce development, supportive housing, and behavioral health treatment. This complements the $500,000 we provide for job training for ex-prisoners. On the front end of the criminal justice system we fund a $2.5 million specialty court expansion to increase access to specialized services for defendants with substance use, mental health, and trauma issues. We increase pay rates for public defenders and assistant district attorneys, recognizing that retaining experienced staff benefits everyone involved in the criminal justice system. These investments put meat on the bones of criminal justice reform.
The Commonwealth’s safety net supports people at every stage of their life. Whether they’re struggling with asthma because of poor housing conditions, getting back on their feet after being laid off, or struggling to make rent, Massachusetts is committed to lifting its people up. We prepare people for the future through quality education and workforce development training. The House recommends historic levels of local aid to fund public education, including $4.9 billion in Chapter 70 funding, of which $39 million is directed to address increasing teacher and faculty healthcare costs, as recommended by the Foundation Budget Review Commission. Additionally, we increase the Special Education Circuit Breaker 6.7% over last fiscal year and inject an additional $9.5 million over last fiscal year to reimburse districts with charter schools. For those out of school, we recommend $32.6 million for Adult Basic Education, which provides funding for adults to pursue their GED and provides ELL classes. This $3.3 million increase over last year will allow 1,000 more slots to become available off the ELL waitlist. Combined with investments to increase the pay of early educators and workforce development programs in STEM fields, our budget makes sure that students learn and are prepared to be the leaders of tomorrow.
A key role of the state’s safety net is to provide direct services to individuals, and the role of the natural environment on a person’s wellbeing is an important part of the equation. This is especially important considering that communities of color tend to bear the impacts of climate change and pollution. We increase funding for the Department of Environmental Protection by 17% to $29 million, which will allow them to hire staff to write permits, enforce actions, and monitor water quality. We fully fund the Office of Watershed Management, which is responsible for protecting the drinking water of 2.5 million people, including those of us in Boston. And $40 million for DCR State Parks and Recreation allows parks, reservations, campgrounds, beaches, pools, rinks, and natural resources stay open and accessible to the public.
In addition to increasing funding for core environmental agencies, we recommend a historic $2.2 million investment in the Office of Climate Change and Adaptation. Recent storms have underscored the need to adapt to climate change and invest in resiliency. This funding allows the Office to hire an environmental justice coordinator to ensure that our vulnerable communities historically overburdened by pollution will benefit from the investments we make. Through the hiring of new inspectors, permit writers, park rangers, and scientists, and in concert with our commitment to solar power, hydropower, and offshore wind, Massachusetts will take the next step to prepare for a climate-resilient future.
Overall, the House Ways and Means Fiscal Year 2019 Budget is a fiscally responsible investment in our most vulnerable. We uphold our commitments to healthcare, housing, and so many crucial programs that ensure the safety and wellbeing of people across the Commonwealth. We understand that these programs empower people to make the most of opportunities and succeed later in life. I look forward to working closely with all members of the House of Representatives in the upcoming budget debate. I believe that together we will build upon our accomplishments to produce a budget that strengthens our core investments in people across Massachusetts.
Click here to view the slides we presented during the budget rollout.
