Massachusetts State Budget http://wamc.org en Massachusetts House Panel Issues State Budget Recommendation http://wamc.org/post/massachusetts-house-panel-issues-state-budget-recommendation <p>The &nbsp;Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday approved a $33.8 billion state budget that boosts spending on higher education and local aid.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> The proposed budget is $ 1 billion less than what Governor Deval Patrick recommended. Committee vice-chair &nbsp;Democrat Stephen Kulik of Worthington says the only new taxes are the ones approved by the full house earlier this week for transportation.</p> Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:32:20 +0000 Paul Tuthill 61925 at http://wamc.org Massachusetts House Panel Issues State Budget Recommendation Mass. groups concerned with cuts to local aid http://wamc.org/post/mass-groups-concerned-cuts-local-aid <p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Amid the uncertainty of the fiscal cliff and declining state revenues, this week Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick proposed a series of mid-year budget cuts to close a half-billion dollar gap in state funding. WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief Lucas Willard spoke to some that are concerned about the cuts.</p><p>Governor Patrick used his authority to propose emergency cuts in the state’s budget to close a $540 million gap in funding. And many are hoping that some of the governor’s planned cuts can be avoided.</p> Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:13:33 +0000 Lucas Willard 53462 at http://wamc.org Mass. groups concerned with cuts to local aid Fiscal Cliff Impact Would Be Dire On Massachusetts Budget http://wamc.org/post/fiscal-cliff-impact-would-be-dire-massachusetts-budget <p>The Patrick Administration’s top budget official warns failure to avert the “fiscal cliff” in Washington will seriously harm the Massachusetts state budget.&nbsp; WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports</p><p></p><p></p><p> If the country goes over the so-called “ fiscal cliff” Massachusetts could lose $300 million in tax revenue this fiscal year and $1 billion dollars next year. It would also cost the state $200 million in federal funding that helps pay for a variety of programs according to the Massachusetts Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez.</p> Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:13:00 +0000 Paul Tuthill 53370 at http://wamc.org Fiscal Cliff Impact Would Be Dire On Massachusetts Budget