ADDP NEW BANNER 2011  
Baker Team Protects Disability Budgets from 9C Cuts
DDS Line Items Intact as Baker Protects Disability Programs

The line item analysis released by the Baker Administration shows no additional immediate budget cuts to DDS line items, other than earlier cuts ordered by the previous Administration in October 2014.

Baker's budget fix was created positively by legislative leaders indicating a continued positive and collegial relationship between the branches.

 ADDP Members are grateful to EOHHS Secretary Marylou Sudders and ANF Secretary Kristin Lepore for the strategic and careful manner in which the new Administration considered budget cuts resulting in human service budgets remaining strong and without service reductions.


New Ideas, community links, and inspiration await!

The ADDP annual conference is a chance for our community to come together to celebrate, learn, and get inspired!

Meet our Keynote Speakers, Tatyana and Debbie McFadden, and hear their inspirational story. Learn how Tatyana overcame tremendous adversity to become a top Olympic competitor, and how she and Debbie have impacted the disability community.

Eleven breakout sessions will be offered on topics of all sorts, for direct support staff, program managers, clinicians, directors, senior leaders & CEOs. Don't miss this opportunity to learn something new!

We've got many exhibitors signed up so far - they will amaze and delight you with their products, services, and free pens!

Plus, a chance to win a prize in the conference raffle!
State House News logo

 

BAKER BUDGET FIX FEATURES $514 MILLION IN SPENDING CUTS

By Gintautas Dumcius and Michael Norton
 

 

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, FEB. 3, 2015.....With five months left in the 2015 fiscal year, Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday filed a corporate tax amnesty proposal and sought to slice $514 million in spending as part of a budget-balancing plan to address a $768 million deficit.

 

The plan also relies on $254 million in new revenue. Legislative approval is needed for the two-month corporate tax amnesty portion, proposed use of $179 million in revenue, and $103 million in cuts.

 

The proposed revenue includes the diversion of $131 million in capital gains taxes that would normally go into the rainy day fund, $18 million from the tax amnesty program, and $105 million in other revenue.

 

Baker's plan includes $150 million in executive branch spending reductions that the governor is making through use of his emergency "9C" powers to cut appropriations. The governor is using those powers to make 300 reductions that do not need legislative approval. Former Gov. Deval Patrick in November also made 9C cuts as part of an effort to restore balance to the $36.5 billion budget he signed in July.

 

Baker's budget chief, Kristen Lepore, said the 9C cuts are being meted out roughly across the board in state government.

 

The plan also calls for $53 million in requested cuts from the judiciary branch and constitutional and legislative officials -- 1.79 percent of their fiscal 2015 budgets -- and uses $108 million in unspent money, also known as "reversions."

 

During a State House press conference, Baker said his plan is in sync with his pledge not to raise taxes or cut local aid and also does not count on draining funds from the state's savings.

 

"Even with all of these adjustments that we're making and proposing here today, state spending year over year in fiscal '15 is going to go up about 7.7 percent," Baker said. "That is simply not sustainable over time, even in a great economy. We certainly have a good economy, many people would say a very good economy. As a result, state government needs to figure out how to spend within that construct."

 

For a full list of FY 15 9C Budget Cuts
 
Administration & Legislature Agree on 4.8% Revenue Growth

 

Announced last Friday, Governor Charlie Baker's Administration and the legislative leadership have agreed in principle to on forecasting a 4.8% growth in FY 16 expected revenue to help each branch have similar targets for budget calculations. Though ANF Secretary Kristin Lepore indicated that the agreement indicated "growing at a consistent pace", budget planners would still need to be cautious in spending decisions.


 

Baker's budget is not expected to be released until early March, a courtesy extended by the Constitution to Governors in their first year in office.  Other years the Governor's budget is released in late January.