ADDP NEW BANNER 2011
Legislature Sends Budget Fix to Gov as Administration Moves Next to FY 16
Baker, House & Senate Fix FY 15 Shortfall
 
On Wednesday & Thursday of this past week, the House and Senate gave their formal approval to Governor Charlie Baker's mid year budget correction bill.

Included in the bill were budget reductions to address a nearly three quarters of a billion shortfall in last year's approved FY 15 budget, inclusive of a plan to allocate additional capital gains receipts to the General Fund, rather than the State's Rainy Day Fund.

Removed from the bill were provisions opposed by the elder and disability communities that sought to enact temporary eligibility restrictions that many felt would give the executive branch increased power to set eligibility standards, rather than retaining such authority in the hands of the legislature.

The bill also corrected and resolved the 5.5% shortfall in DDS Residential Programs (ALTR) which if not addressed would have ceased residential services for the last three weeks of the current fiscal year.  Contract amendments will occur to ALTR programs once the funds are reflected in DDS accounts.
 
Governor's First Budget Out on March 4th
 
Governor Charlie Baker and his team are working late hours putting the finishing touches on the Governor's first House One budget proposal.

That budget for FY 16 is expected to be released on March 4, 2015, and will represent a statement of the Governor's hopes, aspirations and priorities for his Administration.  Earlier this month, leaders from the Executive and Legislative branches agreed that all parties would use a projection of a 4.8% growth in revenue.  That amount represents a continued positive move in the state's economic recovery, though not as robust as all parties would have preferred.

There will remain challenges for the Governor and the Legislature to produce a balanced budget based upon past uses of one time funds no longer available to balance past budgets and a larger than anticipated growth in Medicaid and health care costs related to health care for the poor.

During the Governor's recent campaign, Baker visited with many members of the disability community, and as a former EOHHS Secretary has extensive knowledge about DDS and other human service programs, thus advocates are hoping he will be sensitive to protecting programs impacting people with significant disabilities and other life challenges.