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Page 12 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2023 Legislature Passes Fiscal Year 2024 Budget $56.2B budget agreement provides for historic levels of investment in education, housing, regional transportation, and health care (BOSTON–7/31/23) Today, the Legislature enacted a $56.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), reconciling diff erences between the versions of the budget passed by the House of Representatives and Senate and earlier this year. The FY24 conference committee report provides for historic levels of investment in education, housing, regional 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. “This budget represents a major step forward for our Commonwealth, particularly in making higher education more aff ordable 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 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.” “From critical investments in health care and workforce development, to funding for new initiatives that are designed to increase educational opportunities, better support working families, and provide for a safer and more reliable public transportation system, this FY24 budget will help to make Massachusetts more aff ordable, while ensuring that the Commonwealth’s most consequential institutions work better for Massachusetts residents,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz for his indispensable fi scal leadership, as well as the entire House Committee on Ways and Means, each member of the conference committee, and Senate President Spilka and our partners in the Senate for working diligently to put the best possible package together.” “The Fiscal Year 2024 conference committee report agreement is a forward-thinking budget plan that invests to grow our economy, prioritizes our long-term economic health, expands access to opportunities, and empowers our communities as we build an inclusive post-pandemic future that equitably benefi ts all and moves our Commonwealth forward,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Focused on an overarching goal to meet the pressing needs of our communities, the FY24 conference committee report delivers substantial investments in keys areas, including education, transportation, health care, housing, workforce development, and greatly strengthens our state’s safety net. Thank you to all my colleagues in the Senate, whose advocacy, collaboration, and dedication helped to inform and shape this comprehensive budget plan, especially our conferees, Senator Friedman and Senator O’Connor. Thank you to our House conferees, especially House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz for his steadfast determination to get the job done and deliver a budget. A special heartfelt thank you to the Ways and Means staff , whose diligent work over the last several months was largely responsible for producing this budget, their tireless eff orts did not go unnoticed! Lastly, a warm and sincere thank you to Senate President Spilka for her resolute and compassionate leadership as we work together to grow our economy and prioritize our state’s long-term economic health.” “The $56.2 Billion Fiscal Year 2024 conference committee report is truly a refl ection of the best and most critical initiatives that were contained in the various budget proposals that have been presented this year. Whether it is greater investments into programs like housing stability, food security, or early education the initiatives contained in this budget are a refl ection of our shared values,” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “By reinvesting in the people of the Commonwealth we will continue to assist those recovering from this pandemic while making our economy more competitive and equitable for years to come. I want to thank Speaker Mariano for his leadership during this budget process, as well my fellow House conferees, Representative Ferrante and Representative Smola. I also want to thank my counterparts in the Senate, specifi cally my co-chair Senator Rodrigues, for their partnership in bringing this proposal over the fi nish line.” “In this year’s budget I was proud to secure over $2.4 million for our communities, these investments range from housing, water transportation, environmental preservation, food, and the arts,” said Senator Lydia Edwards (D-Boston), “I want to thank the Senate and House conferees, Chair Michael Rodrigues, Chair Aaron Michlewitz, and Senate President Spilka for delivering this budget.” “I am proud of the collaborative work and efforts that went into passing the state budget for the 2024 Fiscal Year. This comprehensive budget provides support for many of the most vulnerable residents and communities in the 16th Suff olk, as well as throughout the Commonwealth. This important funding will provide needed support to programs such as free school lunches and make vital investments in our healthcare system which will play a major role in assisting those who have been suffering most from the current economic landscape,” said Rep. Jessica Ann Giannino (D-Revere). “I want to thank Speaker Mariano and Chairman Michlewitz for their commitment to the residents of Revere and beyond.” “I am pleased to have supported the state budget and I look forward to Governor Healey signing it into law. This budget includes important priorities for the people of the 19th Suff olk District including permanent free school lunches for ALL school children in our public schools. In addition, the budget makes important investments in higher education and our elementary and high schools, as well as improving our public health infrastructure across the Commonwealth. While I am very pleased with what we were able to secure for our communities there are of course some elements that I am not particularly in favor of, but the budget is a compromise document that takes into account the visions of both the House and Senate. I do believe that overall, it was done well,” said State Representative Jeff rey Rosario Turco (D-Winthrop). The FY24 budget includes a total of $56.2 billion in spending, a $3.8 billion increase over the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Budget. This spending recommendation is based on a tax revenue estimate of $40.41 billion for FY24, representing 1.6 percent growth with an additional $1 billion from the new Fair Share surtax, as agreed upon during the consensus revenue process in January. Remaining vigilant about the current fiscal environment, the FY24 budget adheres to sound fi scal discipline and builds up available reserves for the state’s stabilization fund. The fund has grown to a record high of $7.16 billion and is projected to close FY24 at $9.5 billion, ensuring the Commonwealth will continue to have healthy reserves to maintain fi scal responsibility during a time of ongoing economic volatility. Revere Earmarks: • $1.17 Million for State Police Troop A Directed Patrols for DCR properties including Revere Beach • $20,000 for Revere Boxing Outreach, Inc. • $25,000 for Revere Child Safety Grant • $100,000 for Housing Families Inc. work in Revere • $200,000 for Big Brother Big Sister of Eastern MA Big Futures Mentor Program at Revere High • $750,000 for Reach Out and Read, Inc. to provide support to Revere and neighboring communities • $25,000 for Revere to create a pilot program for grants of not less than $5,000 directed to eligible fi rst-time homebuyers who have lived in a jurisdiction selected by the city for not less than 18 months Winthrop Earmarks: • $25,000 for the handicap sidewalk accessibility program in Winthrop • $100,000 for Winthrop to provide stabilization supports to the displaced survivors of the April 21, 2023 town fi re • $25,000 for the Child Safety Program in Winthrop • $150,000 for Portal to Hope to develop programs combatting domestic violence in Medford, Malden, Everett and Winthrop • $20,000 for Community Against Substance Abuse, Inc. (CASA) to support substance use treatment programs in Winthrop • $900,000 for the metropolitan beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, Quincy, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester and Hull to be fully maintained and seasonally staff ed • $1,000,000 to subsidize ferry services administered by Winthrop during the full-time closure of the Sumner tunnel • $250,000 for Translation Services for Winthrop Public Schools Boston Earmarks: • $250,000 for East Boston neighborhood health center • $75,000 for environmental preservation and green jobs training - Eastie Farm ment Kitchen • $10,000 for East Boston Soup • $10,000 for Back Bay Friday Night Supper • $10,000 for Grace Church Federated Community Pantry • $400,000 for the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts • $50,000 for ZUMIX, the 2nd Latin Music & Dance Festival • $50,000 for environmental preservation and green jobs training - Friends of Belle Isle Marsh • $50,000 Veronica Robles Cultural Center Fair Share Investments to Grow Our Economy Consistent with the consensus revenue agreement reached with the Healey-Driscoll Administration in January, the FY24 budget includes $1 billion in revenues generated from the Fair Share ballot initiative voters approved in November 2022, which established a new surtax of four per cent on annual income above $1 million and invests these new public dollars to improve the state’s education and transportation sectors. To safeguard this new source of revenue, the FY24 budget establishes an Education and Transportation Fund to account for Fair Share revenues in an open and transparent manner, ensuring the public is informed about how this new revenue is collected and used to improve public education and transportation systems in accordance with the ballot initiative. Notable Fair Share education and transportation investment highlights: Education • $171.5 million to require public schools to provide universal school meals to all students free of charge, making Massachusetts the seventh state in the country to make the program permanent, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). According to the Feed Kids Campaign, 56,000 additional children ate school lunch daily in October 2022 compared to October 2019 as a result of this program. • $100 million for Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) capital supports for cities, towns and school districts experiencing extraordinary school project costs impacted by post-COVID infl ationary pressures. - In addition to the $100 million, the budget increases the statutory limit on the estimated amount of grants approved by the MSBA to $1,200,000,000. - This increase in the statutory spending cap, coupled with an infusion of state funding, will allow schools who signed MSBA project • $50,000 for public bathrooms in the Boston Common • $50,000 for Big Hope Expunge

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