FY 2024 Budget House Ways & Means Budget

Fair Share Amendment

The House Committee on Ways and Means budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2024 is the first time that revenue will be allocated from the Fair Share amendment, which provides a new revenue stream for investments in education and transportation. The fair share revenue is expected to generate $1B in fiscal year 2024.

• Provides $500M for Education
  • Provides $161M for universal school meals
  • Provides $100M for Green School Works
  • Provides $84M for financial aid expansions
  • Provides $50M for High Demand Targeted Scholarships
  • Provides $40M for childcare grants to providers
  • Provides $25M for Early Education and Care’s income eligible waitlist
  • Provides $20M for MassReconnect
  • Provides $20M for endowment matching grants
• Provides $500M for Transportation
  • Provides $250M for MBTA capital investments
  • Provides $100M for highway and bridge repair
  • Provides $70M for regional transit funding and grants
  • Provides $65M for MBTA workforce safety reserve
  • Provides $10M for water transportation services
  • Provides $5M for MBTA means-tested fares

Local Aid

The House Committee on Ways and Means budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2024 maintains significant aid to cities and towns across the Commonwealth, despite the economic challenges presented by aftereffects and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure as much support as possible for the Commonwealth’s municipalities, the Committee proposes increasing FY23 levels for the Unrestricted General Government Aid to a sum of $1.25B in FY24. The Committee also proposes investing significantly in education aid to cities and towns. The Committee proposes funding Chapter 70 aid to school districts at $6.59B, a $595.8M increase over the FY23 GAA. The Committee also invests an additional $7.86M in supplemental funding to bring Chapter 70 per pupil minimum aid from $30 to $60. This investment fully funds 3/6th of the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) goal rates. Acknowledging the significant costs that districts face, the Committee invests $107.9M for regional school transportation, $506.1M for Special Education Circuit Breaker reimbursements, and $230.3M for Charter School aid.

• Provides $6.59B for Chapter 70 aid
  • $7.86M to further increase per pupil minimum aid by $30
• Provides $1.25B for Unrestricted General Government Aid
• Provides $506.1M for Circuit Breaker Special Education reimbursement
• Provides $230.3M for Charter School reimbursement
• Provides $107.9M for Regional School Transportation reimbursement
• Provides $51.5M for PILOT Payments
• Provides $25M for the MA Cultural Council
• Provides $28.7M for homeless student transportation
• Provides $15.2M for regional public library systems
• Provides $16.8M for state aid to public libraries
• Provides $1.5M for the Sewer Rate Relief Fund

Early Education and Care

The Department of Early Education and Care provides services for the youngest members of our Commonwealth. The Department also provides subsidized childcare for some of the most vulnerable children served by the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Transitional Assistance, as well as low-income families. The Committee is proud to strengthen our commitment to the childcare provider workforce with significant investments in the childcare accounts as well as investing $90M in rate increases for providers and an additional $10M for grants to providers to assist with personal childcare expenses.

• Provides $328.2M to fund childcare for children by the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Transitional Assistance
• Provides $385.6M for childcare for children from income-eligible families in the Commonwealth
• Provides $70M for a salary reserve to increase rates for center-based early education, with an additional $10M for grants to childcare providers for personal childcare
• Provides $17.5M for Head Start
• Provides $20M for childcare resource and referral agencies
• Provides $15M for pre-school expansion efforts
• Provides $10M for professional development opportunities for childcare providers
• Provides $5M for the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Grant Program

Elementary and Secondary Education

The Commonwealth continues to lead the nation in educational achievement, due, in no small part, to the work done by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The House Committee on Ways and Means budget proposal continues funding for key grant programs within the Department, while also investing in programs that work to close achievement gaps and provide key services for students statewide, such as mentoring grants, after-school programming and literacy programming.

• Provides $65M for adult basic education services
• Provides $30M for METCO programs
• Provides $10.6M for after-school and out-of-school grants
• Provides $9M for school-to-career connecting grants
• Provides $3.6M for English Language Acquisition programs
• Provides $5M for the 21st Century Education Trust Fund
• Provides $5.7M for literacy and early literacy grants
• Provides $2.4M for YouthBuild
• Provides $2.8M for Recovery High Schools
• Provides $5M for expansion of career and technical assistance to address waitlists at vocational-technical high schools
• Provides $1.5M for the Civics Project Trust Fund in addition to $1M in civics education program grants
• Provides $1.2M for Mentoring Grants

Higher Education

The Committee recognizes the importance of a quality, attainable degree for Massachusetts students, and is proud to continue our investment in the campuses, as well as funding the state scholarship item at $175M. The Committee also provides $14M for the SUCCESS fund to provide wraparound support for community college students from vulnerable populations.

• Provides $691.8M for the University of Massachusetts system
• Provides $346M for community colleges
• Provides $337.2M for state universities
• Provides $175.2M for the State Scholarship program
• Provides $14M for the Community College SUCCESS program
• Provides $4.75M for the STEM Starter Academies
• Provides $12M for the dual enrollment program
• Provides $15M for Early College program
• Provides $2M for the already existing High Demand Targeted Scholarship Program
• Provides $4M for Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment at higher education institutions

Health and Human Services

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services plays a crucial role in providing residents of the Commonwealth in need with access to services and supports. These services, including access to healthcare, food, and temporary assistance, are vital sources of relief for Massachusetts children, families, veterans, seniors and those with disabilities. The House Committee on Ways and Means Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal supports this mission by ensuring investments that protect the needs and safety of our state’s most vulnerable populations.

MassHealth

As the Commonwealth provided safety net services to those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most important investments has been ensuring that low-income residents have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. As the federal public health emergency is set to end on May 11, MassHealth has begun the eligibility redetermination process which may result in up to 800,000 MassHealth members becoming unenrolled. The House Committee on Ways and Means budget proposal includes $19.93B for MassHealth programmatic spending to fully support the FY24 caseload estimates.

• Expands ConnectorCare eligibility to 500% of the federal poverty limit for two years to assist individuals who are no longer eligible for MassHealth as a result of the redetermination process
• Eliminates the asset cap for the Medicare Savings Program
• Provides $112M to increase nursing facility rates

Department of Developmental Services

The Department of Developmental Services empowers children and adults with developmental disabilities to become fully engaged members of their communities. The House Committee on Ways and Means budget proposal reflects the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting both individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to become active members in their communities through day and employment programs, as well as residential and respite services. The Committee’s proposal fully funds the Turning 22 class, annualizes the costs of the Turning 22 population, and invests in programs to support consumers and their families.

• Provides $91M for the Department of Developmental Services Administration and Operations
• Provides $1.72B for Community Residential Services
• Provides $240.1M for Community Day and Work Programs, a $51M increase over H.1
• Provides $2.8M for Supportive Technology for Individuals, a $1.3M increase over H.1
• Provides $98.1M for Respite Family Supports
• Provides $13.9M for Autism Division
• Provides $52.5M for Autism Omnibus
• Provides $33.9M for Transportation Services

Department of Children and Families

The Department of Children and Families strives to protect the children of the Commonwealth from abuse and neglect by providing family support services and family stabilization services, as well as foster care and adoptive services. The House Committee on Ways and Means budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2024 continues the trend of increasing support for this critical mission.

• Provides $294.6M for social workers for case management
• Provides $354.5M for services for children and families
• Provides $431M for congregate care services
• Provides $88.8M for family support and stabilization
• Provides $24.8M for Family Resource Centers
• Provides $9.5M for Lead Agency coordination of services

Department of Youth Services

The Department of Youth Services is charged with rehabilitating youthful offenders through a continuum model of services and supervision. The House Committee on Ways and Means budget proposal highlights the importance of instilling positive change through education and skill development for the youths under the Department’s care. The Department through the Committee’s proposal will continue to be able to operate effective programs by partnering with all available organizations to reduce recidivism, promote positive change, and protect the public.

• Provides $116.9M for residential services for committed population
• Provides $29.4M for residential services for detained population
• Provides $25.6M for the non-residential services for committed population

Department of Transitional Assistance

The Department of Transitional Assistance works to ease the burdens on the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable, ensuring that children, the elderly, the disabled, the unemployed and the underemployed have access to the services and the benefits that they need to achieve economic self-sufficiency and a better quality of life. The Department reaches one in eight Massachusetts residents through its economic assistance, food assistance, and workforce training programs, and the House Committee on Ways and Means budget proposal would protect and preserve these standards of support through the post-pandemic recovery and help guarantee opportunity for every resident of the Commonwealth.

• Provides $424.3M for Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children
• Provides $197.2M for Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children
• Provides $5M for Healthy Incentives Program
• Provides $3.5M for Two Generation Economic Mobility Programs

Department of Public Health

The Department of Public Health aims to ensure that all people of the Commonwealth remain healthy by promoting wellness and establishing health and safety regulations to prevent injury, illness, and premature death. The Department of Public Health also strives to eliminate health disparities within the Commonwealth by acknowledging and addressing social determinants of health. The House Committee on Ways and Means supports the Department’s behavioral health efforts and proposes increases for the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, Early Intervention Services, and School Based Health Programs to fund workforce development initiatives.

• Provides $208.2M for the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services
• Provides $42.9M for early intervention services
  • $17.8M for targeted workforce development and staffing recovery initiatives
• Provides $36.3M for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention
• Provides $21.5M for family and adolescence reproductive health
• Provides $10.8M for chronic disease prevention
• Provides $71.2M for sexual assault and domestic violence services
• Provides $12.5M for behavioral health supports
• Provides $18.6M for school-based health programs

Department of Mental Health

As the Commonwealth’s mental health authority, the Department of Mental Health provides community-based and continuing care inpatient services for over 20,000 individuals. The Department serves the severely, persistently mentally ill with the goal of enabling as many individuals as possible to live, work, and participate in their communities. The House Committee on Ways and Means Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal continues this effort by supporting emergency department diversion boarding and continuing the loan forgiveness program to address workforce retention and development issues within clinical behavioral health.

• Provides $584.9M for adult support services
• Provides $118M for child and adolescent mental health services
• Provides $22.3M for emergency department diversion programs

Executive Office of Elder Affairs

The Department of Elder Affairs provides services that promote independence and sustain a high quality of life for elders with support to their families and caregivers. These services range from community-based services and supports as well as nutrition programs, protective services, and housing, which are provided through a network of Aging Service Access Points and Councils on Aging across the state. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these services became even more critical to keep older adults healthy. The House Committee on Ways and Means budget proposes a funding level of $711.3M to ensure that these important services continue while recognizing the unprecedented, continued growth in the elder population and desire to age in the community.

• Provides $303.1M for the Community Choices Program, which provides MassHealth eligible elders with nursing facility levels of need with home care support
• Provides $25.8M for Grants to Councils on Aging
• Provides $2.5M in funding for Elder Mental Health Outreach Teams, which link in-crisis elders with a wide variety of behavioral health services
• Maintains $6.4M in funding for 24 Elder Supportive Housing Sites

Veterans’ Services

The Executive Office of Veterans’ Services provides veterans with access to programs and services throughout the Commonwealth. The Executive Office provides educational opportunities, outreach centers and service benefits, as well as personal care services through the Soldiers’ Homes in Chelsea and Holyoke.

• Provides $68.2M for Veterans’ Benefit Payments
• Provides $79M for the Soldiers’ Homes in Chelsea and Holyoke
• Provides $10.1M for Veterans’ Outreach Centers
• Provides $8M for assistance to homeless veterans

Housing and Economic Development

The Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development promotes economic opportunity for residents of the Commonwealth, advances community development initiatives, and fosters job creation and business growth. The House Committee on Ways and Means Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal prioritizes funding crucial support programs to advance the Commonwealth’s economic recovery. This budget invests in business development and grant opportunities as well as tourism support and job training programs to help foster economic activity across the Commonwealth.

• Provides $7.5M for support grants for anti-poverty efforts at Community Action Agencies
• Provides $30M for Small Business Technical Assistance Grants
• Provides $3.2M for the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism for post-pandemic renewal
• Provides $2.5M for Urban Agenda Economic Development Grants
• Provides $1M for the Transformative Development Fund, including $750K for the Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative

Department of Housing and Community Development

The Department of Housing and Community Development provides affordable housing options and essential financial support to vulnerable families and communities in the Commonwealth. A safe housing environment provides a solid foundation from which families and individuals can lead stable, successful lives. As such, the House Committee on Ways and Means budget proposal preserves or expands funding for all emergency homeless assistance programs, as well as homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing for both families and individuals. The Fiscal Year 2024 budget includes an historic $1B to ensure that these important programs continue to support and provide safe housing for thousands of individuals and families across the Commonwealth.

• Provides $324.1M for the Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Program
• Provides $173.2M for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
• Provides $102M for Public Housing Authorities
• Provides $110M for Homeless Individuals Assistance
• Provides $42.1M for the HomeBASE Program
• Provides $180.6M for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program
• Provides $12.5M for Rental Subsidies to Eligible Department of Mental Health Clients
• Provides $14.1M for the Alternative Voucher Housing Program (AVHP)
• Provides $9.7M for Housing Consumer Education Centers
• Provides $5M for Rapid Re-Housing Programs for Homeless Individuals
• Provides $8.4M for the Home and Healthy for Good Program
• Provides $5M for the Service Coordinators Program
• Provides $10M for Shelter Workforce Assistance
• Provides $7M for a Housing Assistance for Reentry Transition program

Labor and Workforce Development

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s mission is to help the residents of the Commonwealth enter and adapt to the labor market by offering workforce training, education, and unemployment benefits. The House Committee on Ways and Means Fiscal Year 2024 budget continues to support the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s work in assisting individuals with their job search and ensuring that all residents of the Commonwealth are provided with a safe, healthy, and fair working environment.

• Provides $31M for Summer Jobs for At-Risk-Youth
• Funds a $17M transfer to the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund
• Provides $20.4M for Career Technical Institutes
• Provides $4.8M for a prisoner re-entry workforce development program
• Provides $2M for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership
• Provides $5M for the Registered Apprenticeship Program
• Provides $1M for SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund
• Provides $150K for AFL-CIO Workforce Development Programs
• Provides $15M for One Stop Career Centers

Transportation

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) works to provide a safe and reliable transportation network across the Commonwealth. Maintaining infrastructure from roads to rails, MassDOT supports a growing economy and improves the quality of life for residents while investing in innovative solutions to meet the transportation needs of both today and tomorrow. The House Committee on Ways and Means budget supports the complex demands of our dynamic transportation network. The Committee’s recommendation enables the Department, the MBTA, and the Regional Transit Authorities to meet the increasing demand for public transportation and actively maintain core services.

• Provides $478.9M for MassDOT
• Provides $187M for the MBTA
• Provides $94M for the Regional Transit Authorities
  • Includes $3.5M for RTA performance-based incentive grant program

Energy and Environmental Affairs

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is the steward of the Commonwealth’s rich ecosystems and habitats, from the Atlantic to the Appalachian Trail, and protector of those environments on behalf of all the animals ­ and ­ people that live in them. Through a focus on environmental justice, climate change mitigation, natural resources and sustainable development, the Executive Office seeks to ensure that Massachusetts communities, in both city and countryside, live up to our long legacy of conservation and see an even brighter future for everyone in the Commonwealth. The House Committee on Ways and Means budget would strengthen this ecological commitment and defend clean energy jobs and food systems across Massachusetts.

• Provides $102.2M for DCR State Parks and Recreation
• Provides $79.2M for the Department of Environment Protection
• Provides $63.4M for the Clean Water Trust Contract Assistance
• Provides $31.7M for Emergency Food Assistance
• Provides $38.3M for the Department of Fish and Game

Public Safety and Security

The House Committee on Ways and Means budget proposal provides funding for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the fourteen sheriff’s departments, allowing the Commonwealth to continue to develop and implement programming that ensures the safety and security of residents. The Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal provides targeted increases to carry on with this important endeavor. Moreover, this budget proposal incorporates investments related to criminal justice and police reform that impact an array of state functions, from the development of core infrastructure and technology to the provision of vital clinical care and re-entry services. Services provided by the public safety agencies include, but are not limited to, enforcing statewide laws, protecting the state against fire and other emergency situations and all other correctional related programs.

• Provides $824.2M for the Department of Correction
• Provides $702.2M for the Commonwealth’s 14 sheriffs’ offices
• Provides $532.5M for the Department of State Police
• Provides $59.6M for the Executive Office of Public Safety
• Provides $38.4M for the Department of Fire Services
• Provides $18.5M for a reserve at A&F for medically assisted treatment at county correctional facilities
• Maintains $20M in the Communications Access Trust Fund for no-cost calls in prisons and jails
• Provides $12.3M for the Shannon Anti-Gang Grant Program
• Provides $10.4M to reimburse tuition and fees for National Guard members at public higher education institutions
• Provides $8.5M for the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, four other small police reform related commissions, and a police reform reserve
• Provides $4M for an emerging adults re-entry program to reduce recidivism among adults 18-25 years old
• Provides $1.5M for a non-profit security grant

Judiciary

The Judiciary is responsible for upholding the Massachusetts General Laws as well as the Constitution of the United States. The House Committee on Ways and Means budget aims to ensure that every resident has equal access to justice through the court system. The Committee’s proposal furthers this mission by including an $8M increase over the Fiscal Year 2023 GAA appropriation to fund civil legal aid programs that provide vital support in areas such as housing and employment for the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable individuals and their families continuing to navigate impacts and aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Provides $876.9M for the Department of the Trial Court
• Provides $329.5M for the Committee for Public Counsel Services
• Provides $167.3M for the District Attorneys’ Offices of the Commonwealth
• Provides $49M for Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation
• Provides $14.1M for Community Based Re-entry Programs