Shaping the FY2021 Budget

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Earlier this month, the House passed our budget for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21). With funding set at $46 billion, the House focused its efforts on combating the deleterious effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on every aspect of our lives. In challenging and uncertain times, I was very happy to secure direct appropriations of $50,000 to the Stoneham Police Department to upgrade its emergency equipment and $50,000 to the Winchester Fire Department for the modernization of its protective emergency equipment. We also kept our commitment to our towns by increasing funding of unrestricted local aid as well as Chapter 70 education funding to Stoneham and Winchester.

The House version of the bill also includes:

  • $53 million in COVID-related student support;
  • $1.1 Billion in Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) for cities and towns; and
  • $5.3 billion in Chapter 70 education funding.

We also honored our long-standing commitment to our most vulnerable residents by increasing housing and homelessness funding, and addressing an expected eviction crisis with  more than $350 million in funding to various agencies and initiatives, including:

  • $135 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program;
  • $50 million for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program (RAFT);
  • $13 million for homeless student transportation;
  • $11 million for the Department of Mental Health’s Rental Subsidy program;
  • $8 million for homeless unaccompanied youth; and
  • $56 million for homeless shelters across the Commonwealth.

We also increased efforts to bolster economic development, support small businesses and restore jobs, including:

  • $15 million for increased support of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP);
  • $15 million for community development financial institutions;
  • $10 million for matching grants for capital investments by small businesses;
  • $6 million for small business technical assistance grants;
  • $2 million for local manufacturers through the Massachusetts Manufacturing Partnership;
  • $46 million for Adult Basic Education services; and
  • $19 million for summer jobs for at-risk youth.

I am also very happy that we continue to move forward in our fight against climate change and to prioritize climate resiliency initiatives, dedicating more than $300 million to environmental spending in FY’21, including:

  • $50 million for state parks and recreation;
  • $40 million for the Department of Environmental Protection;
  • $16 million for agricultural resources;
  • $2.1 million for ecological restoration; and
  • $500,000 for the Commonwealth’s endangered species program.

The Senate recently passed their version of the budget and we are now conferencing the differences to present the Governor with one final budget for his action.