Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 11, 2023 Legislature passes FY24 Budget, including millions in DiDomenico priorities Budget agreement provides for historic levels of investment in education, housing, regional transportation and health care L ast week the legislature approved a $56.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), including many of DiDomenico’s legislative priorities and millions of dollars for his district. This budget provides historic levels of investment in education, housing, regionA al transportation, health care, workforce development and more as part of a broad strategy to grow our state’s economy and make Massachusetts more aff ordable, inclusive and competitive. Having been enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate on ANGELO’S FULL SERVICE 1978-2023 Celebrating 45 Years in Business! 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Mon.-Wed. 6AM - 6PM / Thurs. & Fri. 6AM - 7PM / Sat. 7AM / Sun. 9AM-5PM JOHN MACKEY & ASSOCIATES ~ Attorneys at Law ~ * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY * LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES 14 Norwood Street Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 WWW.JMACKEYLAW.COM July 31, 2023, the FY24 budget moved to the Governor’s desk for her response. “I am proud of this transformative budget that reflects our state’s values by prioritizing children and working-class families,” said Senator DiDomenico, who is Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “I was able to secure funding for programs I have championed for years, including permanent funding for universal school meals so every K-12 student will get free breakfast and lunch, an increase in cash benefi ts for families in deep poverty, an expansion of the children’s clothing allowance so every kid has access to quality clothes, and historic investments in education funding to name a few. I want to thank Senate President Karen E. Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, the Ways and Means staff , and all my colleagues for a budget that will keep Massachusetts economically competitive and welcoming for people across all backgrounds and incomes.” “This budget represents a major step forward for our Commonwealth, particularly in making higher education more affordable and more accessible to everyone,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Tuition equity, free community college for nursing students and students 25 and older, and laying the groundwork for free universal community college starting next fall—all part of Sal DiDomenico State Senator the Senate’s Student Opportunity Plan—are crucial to securing our long-term competitiveness, providing residents with concrete ways to create the futures they dream of, and continuing our state’s commitment to education at every level. Included in that commitment is a historic $1.5 billion in early education and care, as well as making universal free school meals permanent and school construction funds more accessible. As we seek to improve access to quality health care, our investment in nurses—combined with a policy provision to allow more professional nurses to train the next generation—will help ease the burden on our workforce, while we update protocols for stroke and protect preventive health services that are currently covered by the Aff ordable Care Act. These are just a few of the many important provisions included in the fi nal Fiscal Year 2024 budget, all designed to keep Massachusetts moving forward as we continue to go back to better after COVID. I am so very grateful to all of my Senate colleagues, with whom so many of the great initiatives included in the fi nal budget initiated, as well as to Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, Vice Chair Cindy Friedman, and Assistant Vice Chair Jo Comerford, Senate Ways and Means staff , Speaker Mariano, the conferees and everyone who worked so hard to get this impressive budget over the fi nish line.” Sena t or Di Domen i co worked with his colleagues to help secure funding and language for many programs and initiatives in the FY24 budget including: Food insecurity · Universal School Meals: $171.5 million to provide free universal school meals to all students throughout the Commonwealth, making Massachusetts the seventh state in the country to make the program permanent. Over 80,000 additional children will be eating school meals as a result of this program compared to 2019 before free meals were off ered statewide. · Food assistance: $36 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program after securing $1 million additional funding through the amendment process. Supporting families in poverty · Children’s clothing allowance: providing $450 per child for eligible families (an increase of $50 per child) to buy clothes for the upcoming school year. · Cash benefi t increase for those in deep poverty: the budget includes a 10 percent increase to Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) benefi t levels compared to June 2023. Education · $6.59 billion in Chapter 70 funding, an increase of $604 million over FY 2023, as well as doubling minimum Chapter 70 aid from $30 to $60 per pupil. · Early Education & Care: $1.5 VOTES | SEE PAGE 10 Prices subject to change DIESEL TRUCK STOP FLEET
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