Bill passes shortly after being received from House, clears way for funding of emergency shelter aid and worker contracts
BOSTON (12/05/2023) – Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate took final action on a supplemental budget designed to close out Fiscal Year 2023. The Senate’s supplemental budget totals $3.1 billion and contains several provisions to support the ongoing operations of programs and services that benefit the residents of the Commonwealth.
To address the ongoing humanitarian emergency shelter crisis, the final bill allocates $250 million to be spent to address costs associated with sheltering eligible families, including by making funding available for temporary emergency shelter sites for families on a waitlist for permanent shelter. The final bill also stipulates that a portion of the $250 million be spent on support services and resources so that individuals and families can address the complex issues and challenges they face, as well as reimbursements to school districts for increased enrollment costs associated with an influx of migrant students.
To ensure oversight of spending on the emergency shelter crisis, the bill requires robust reporting every 14 days. In addition to $250 million for the emergency shelter system, the budget provides $10 million for resettlement agencies to assist immigrants and refugees and authorizes the use of up to $2 million in available funds from the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to support career centers in their efforts to assist immigrants and refugees in securing federal work authorizations.
“The Senate understands how much of an impact our work has on the residents of the Commonwealth—especially when pay raises for hard-working employees and funding for emergency shelter is on the line,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I’m proud of the urgency the Senate has repeatedly shown in getting this bill to the Governor’s desk, and I’d like to thank all of my colleagues in the Senate for getting this done, especially Senate Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues and Senate Minority Leader Tarr.”
“The Senate again acted swiftly and decisively to close the books and pass the closeout supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2023. With $250 million in emergency funding, we met the challenge of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis head-on. We also allocated $378 million to fully fund over 90 collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) for state workers, absolved a $100 million pension liability from the 2015 Early Retirement Incentive Program, and dedicated substantial funding to special education and disaster relief for municipalities across the Commonwealth,” said State Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This would not have been possible without the hard work of the Senate Ways and Means staff, and the Senate conference committee conferees. I would like to thank my Senate colleagues, whose invaluable input and counsel always guided our revenue discussions. I would also like to thank Minority Leader Tarr, whose viewpoint I always respect; but especially Senate President Spilka, for her continued steadfast and compassionate leadership through these ever-changing times.”
“Yesterday, I joined many of my colleagues at the State House in passing the FY’23 closeout supplemental budget and sending it to the Governor’s desk without further delay. This spending package includes critical funding for initiatives throughout the Commonwealth, including the authorization of contracts for many hard-working state employees.” shared Senator John C. Velis (D- Westfield) “With additional and important funding allocated for our Commonwealth’s emergency shelter system, I look forward to continuing the conversation and review of our shelter program.”
Other notable items in the closeout supplemental budget include: $378 million to fund collective bargaining increases for state workers; $75 million for school districts impacted by special education tuition rate increases; $15 million for disaster relief for municipalities impacted by storms and natural disasters that occurred in 2023; and a supplemental $100 million pension payment to remove any further increased liability resulting from the 2015 early retirement incentive program. The largest spending item in the bill was related to health care costs provided through MassHealth.
A version of this supplemental budget having passed the House and Senate, it was sent to the Governor on Monday, December 4, 2023, and signed the same day.
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