Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MAy 6, 2022 FY23 BUDGET | FROM PAGE 4 • $77M for regional transportation • $22M for homeless student transportation The House budget invests in higher education by allocating $653M for the University of Massachusetts system, $337M for community colleges and $326M for state universities. Building on Speaker Mariano’s priority to ensure Massachusetts residents from diverse backgrounds have access to meaningful educational opportunities, the budget also includes a $25.5M increase in scholarship funding over the last fiscal year for a new total of $156M, and it funds the Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS) Fund at $14M and the STEM Starter Academy (SSA) program at $4.75M. Workforce The budget also includes large investments in youth engagement programs, job training and workforce development, including: • $60M for adult education to support English Language Learners and adults working towards their GED Law Offices of JOSEPH D. CATALDO, P.C. “ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW” • ESTATE/MEDICAID PLANNING • WILLS/TRUSTS/ESTATES • INCOME TAX PREPARATION • WEALTH MANAGEMENT • RETIREMENT PLANNING • ELDER LAW 369 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 (617)381-9600 JOSEPH D. CATALDO, CPA, CFP, MST, ESQUIRE. AICPA Personal Financial Specialist Designee We Sell Cigars & Accessories R.Y.O. TOBACCO ---------TUBES CIGAR SMOKERS DELIGHT! 15 Handmade Churchill Size Cigars including a Cohiba - Long Leaf filler - wrapped $43.95 Celebrating our 50th Year! HUMIDOR SPECIAL! $99.95 Complete! Reg. 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Competitive prices on all Brands, Great Selection • $28.3M for the YouthWorks jobs program to fund over 6,000 summer and year-round jobs for youths in low-wageearning and fixed-income families • $25.7M for workforce support for K-12 schools • $20.4M for Career Technical Institutes to train workers and allow them to close skills gaps and meet the needs of businesses across the Commonwealth • $17M for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund • $15M for One-Stop Career Centers to connect individuals with training and employers • $1M investment in Learn to Earn • $1M for the 1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund Additionally, the House budget invests in programs across departments to support workforce equity in Massachusetts that help diverse communities and employers succeed. New initiatives include: • $20M for a loan forgiveness program within the Department of Mental Health to support their workforce • $15M to support teachers of color, including $7.5M for the Tomorrow’s Teachers program to provide scholarships to people committed to teaching in public schools and $7.5M for loan repayment for teachers of color • $10M for loan repayment and bonuses for the homeless shelter workforce that continue to provide critical services to the most vulnerable populations • $1M for a public awareness campaign to ensure all communities can use these programs Health The Commonwealth’s commitment to MassHealth remains one of the largest drivers of the budget. In FY23 the House is providing $18.40 billion to fully fund its caseload, which has increased as more residents have become eligible during the pandemic. The House’s FY23 budget accurately reflects this enrollment growth due to the federal extension of the public health emergency, showing the necessary increase in spending beyond what was included in the Governor’s budget proposal, while also factoring in the increased Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) reimbursement levels. The budget prepares for the transition of individuals from MassHealth to the Health Connector when the federal public health emergency ends by providing $50M for a Connector Care Pilot Program, which uses savings from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to fund subsidized health insurance plans for members who are at between 300%-500% of the federal poverty level (FPL) for two years. It also invests $37M to expand eligibility for the Medicare Savings Program to 250 percent FPL. The House FY23 budget invests in the human services workforce who provide services to our most vulnerable, including $230M for Chapter 257 rates for health and human service workers, $40M to continue higher rate add-ons and ensure a smaller wage cliff between FY22 and FY23 for home health aides and homemakers and $1M for the Nursing and Allied Health Workforce Development program. Additional investments include funding for programming such as the Elder Mental Health Outreach Teams, the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative Expansion, nine Elder Supportive Housing Sites and the Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (SHINE) program. The budget fully funds Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children at $343M, as well as Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children at $137M. The House budget reflects the commitment to supporting health and behavioral health needs across the Commonwealth. Investments include: • $10M to expand emergency diversion boarding programs within the Department of Mental Health • $188.6M for the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services • $12.5M for behavioral health supports • $48.3M for early intervention services, with dedicated funding to help its workforce recover from the pandemic The House FY23 budget includes funding for housing and homelessness prevention, investing $150M for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), $140M for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), $100M for homeless individuals, $92M for housing authority subsidies and $59.4M for HomeBASE The budget funds the Department of Developmental Services at $2.44 billion – aimed to support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. That includes $278.4M for Community Day and Work Programs, $90.6M for respite services, $42.3M in autism supports FY23 BUDGET | SEE PAGE 9
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