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BOSTON – State Representative Harold P. Naughton, Jr. joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing a balanced supplemental budget. The budget reinvests $350 million in the Stabilization Fund, devotes more than $28 million for those most in need and provides $23 million in order to keep local courts open.
“Reinvesting in our stabilization fund will help keep our state on a strong financial footing,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) said. “This supplemental budget targets funds at job creation and local priorities, those most in need and those whose lives have been disrupted by storms.”
“The passing of the supplemental budget provides much needed assistance during times when people’s lives have been affected the most,” Representative Naughton (D-Clinton) said. “The bill effectively targets the important areas of need for residents in our communities by providing crucial funding support. We will continue to work to provide the necessary tools in order to help maintain the recovery during these inconsistent economic times.”
The investment in the Stabilization Fund follows the decision last month of Standard & Poor’s to increase the state’s bond rating from AA to AA+, a move that will save Massachusetts millions in borrowing costs. The bill also provides $19 million for damage as a result of this past summer’s tornado, the 2008 ice storm and the 2010 floods in southeastern Massachusetts.
Some of the other funding priorities included in the supplemental budget are as follows:
Health and Human Services
- $8.2 million to ensure the full $150 clothing allowance for children of families receiving Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children
(TAFDC)
- $6 million to ensure that the state maintains its 10 day bed hold policy for MassHealth nursing home patients
- $500,000 for HIV Prevention Services which help reduce the number of new HIV infections by using outreach, counseling, awareness, and support services
- $5 million for Department of Developmental Services Community Residential Services
Job Creation
- $3 million in additional funding for Adult Basic Education, which funds services to teach adults who lack high school level skills or English language speaking ability.
- $ 1 million on the Quality Care Fund which will provide increased wages for private sector human service workers that complete job-related training. This pilot program will reduce turnover and improve the quality of services in Massachusetts.
- $10 million on Expansion of the Low Income House Tax Credit Program, which assists in the production and preservation of affordable rental housing for low-income families and individuals.
- $38 million Infrastructure Development Projects which includes funding for the construction, reconstruction and expansion of publicly owned infrastructure including, but not limited to sewers, utility extensions, streets, roads, curb-cuts, parking facilities, water treatment systems, and pedestrian and bicycle access.
- $500 thousand for the STEM pipeline fund, which increases the number of Massachusetts students who participate in programs that support careers in fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The number of qualified STEM teacher, and improves the STEM educational offerings available in public and private schools.
- $107,000 for Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) to help seniors connected to their communities
Other notable additions in the budget for storm assistance to municipalities include; $10million in tornado assistance for Western Massachusetts, $6.2 million for the ice storm damage in December 2008, and $2.8 million for the flooding throughout South Eastern Massachusetts in Spring 2010.
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