Could you plan $36 Billion in Spending in Eight Weeks?

Could you plan $36 Billion in Spending in Eight Weeks?

Editor's Note and Correction:

Correction to earlier suggestion that the next Governor had three weeks to pull together their Administration's budget. From DDS Larry Tummino and Thomas Simard:

"The new Governor does get about an extra month to file the budget. Per MGL Chapter 29, Section 7H, the new Governor will have an additional 5 weeks (8 total) after the General Court convenes the new session in early January."

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Next Governor Will Have Eight Weeks to Plan $36 Billion in State Spending

For state government watchers, fall is generally the time to make your case with representatives of the Administration on what should be included in the Governor's House One Budget Proposal, generally released in late January of each year.

Though legislators are keen to point out that the Governor merely proposes and the Legislature decides, House One is often the starting point from which public discussions center around the state's plans for the next fiscal year.

Though the current Governor and Cabinet Secretaries still have the Constitutional authority to begin the budget assembly process for next year's FY 16 budget, the final budget will be decided by the new occupant of the Third Floor Executive Suite and their Cabinet and Administration advisers. The new team, either Governor Coakley or Governor Baker

will be sworn into office the first week of January and then be expected to offer a full throated and well vetted budget within the next eight weeks. No simple task after a grueling and likely close election.

Thus ADDP urges all of our members to visit with both the current Administration and their potential successors to ensure that the needs of the disability community are reflected in next year's budget.

Key themes that we hope the current and next Administration will include in their respective budgets include:

Keeping Families Together by Supporting Increased Funding for:

DDS Family Support & Respite Services to keep families together
DESE-DDS to help kids live at home and succeed at school

Promote Work & Self Sufficiency by Supporting increased Funding for:

Day & Employment Services to help people earn a living & have a meaningful day
Turning 22 Programs to see that over 900 graduating students have adult services

Address the Needs of Kids and Adults with Autism

Support the Kids Autism Waiver to promote early intervention success
Fund Autism Adult Community Services promised services by the 2014 Autism Bill

Support Full Implementation of Chapter 257

Implement two year reviews
Fund all shortfalls without forcing people to lose service