Massachusetts

  • In The News
  • Background
  • Issues
  • Solutions
  • Pensions
  • Commentary
    • Headlines : Minnesota, Colorado, California, Maryland, Ohio, Nebraska, Louisiana, Massachusetts

      States' Rift on Taxes Widens

      The Wall Street Journal | by Mark Peters | May 24, 2013

      Minnesota's move to raise $2.1 billion in new taxes, largely from the wealthy, to fund government programs puts it among a handful of states controlled by Democrats that are adopting more liberal fiscal policies at a time when many Republican-dominated statehouses are pushing to cut taxes.

    • Headlines

      Rich States, Poor States, 6th Edition

      American Legislative Exchange Council | by Arthur B. Laffer, Stephen Moore and Jonathan Williams | May 23, 2013

      This 6th edition of Rich States, Poor States contains invaluable insight into each of the 50 "laboratories of democracy." With solid empirical research and the latest data on state economies, the evidence is clear on which state tax and fiscal policies directly lead to more opportunities, more jobs, and more prosperity for all Americans.

    • Headlines : Massachusetts

      Mass. Senate to begin debating state budget plan

      Boston.com | May 22, 2013

      The Senate plan and a budget passed by the House last month both include $500 million in new revenue, including hikes in gasoline and cigarette taxes.

    • Headlines : Massachusetts

      Mass. senators unveil $34B state budget proposal

      Boston.com | by Steve LeBlanc | May 16, 2013

      The Senate Ways and Means Committee released a nearly $34 billion state budget proposal, a spending plan significantly less than the plan Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled earlier this year.

    • Headlines

      Ex-Penn State president tops highest paid list

      CNNMoney.com | by Blake Ellis | May 13, 2013

      Presidents of public universities are taking home bigger paychecks, and a growing number are raking in more than $1 million.

    • View All News Stories

    Budget timeline: Annual

    Fiscal Year starts: July 1
     

    The current state budget can be found here.

    Find the legislative session calendar here.

    Find the current legislative leaders here.

     

    MA Gov. Patrick

    Gov. Deval Patrick
    Office of Governor Deval Patrick
    State House
    Room 360
    Boston, MA 02133
    Phone: (617) 725-4000
    Fax: (617) 727-9725

     

     

    Glen Shor, Secretary
    Executive Office for Administration and Finance
    Room 272, State House
    Boston, MA 02133
    Phone (617) 727-2081
    Fax (617) 727-2050
    http://www.mass.gov/eoaf

     

    Want a more robust, long-term look at your state's fiscal health, beyond the budget? There are two parts: Click here for the FY2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) compiled by the state government, and click here for information on the state's pension liabilities

     

    Massachusetts is required to pass a "balanced budget." Article 63, Section 2 of the 1780 Constitution addresses the need for the governor to set forth all expenditures and all revenues and other means "by which such expenditures shall be defrayed." More importantly, Chapter 29, Section 6E of the State law requires the governor to submit, and the general assembly to pass, a general appropriations bill which constitutes a balanced budget. If a deficiency in revenue exists, Chapter 29, Section 9C requires the governor to reduce spending or propose ways to generate additional revenue. Massachusetts law does not forbid the carrying over of a deficit from one year to the next.

     

    The State maintained four major funds for FY07: General Fund, Highway Fund, Lotteries Fund, and Massachusetts School Building Authority. For FY06 and FY05, the State maintained several additional major funds. Each year, the State's CAFR includes a single Budgetary Comparison Schedule with no specific title, simply named Budgeted Funds. [from the Institute for Truth in Accounting]

     

    Find the state's bond ratings here.

     

    SR Logo

    Pioner Inst. Logo


    • Solutions:

      How Reality-Based Budgeting Can Permanently Resolve State Budget Gaps

      State Budget Solutions | by Bob Williams | November 7, 2012

      State Budget Solutions recommends that state legislators take action in 2013 to resolve the serious state financial crises by changing their focus from inputs to outcomes by redesigning budgets from the ground up based on priorities and performance.

    • Solutions:

      How to Prevent Future Pension Crises

      by Cory Eucalitto | November 1, 2012

      The time for state and local governments to offer defined contribution retirement plans that protect both taxpayer dollars and public employee retirement security is now.

    • Solutions:

      State Lawmaker’s Guide to Evaluating Medicaid Expansion Projections

      The Heritage Foundation | by Edmund F. Haislmaier and Drew Gonshorowski | October 17, 2012

      Supporters of Obamacare claim that expanding Medicaid will entail little to no cost to state governments, since the federal government will fund the vast majority of the additional costs. Indeed, some analyses project states achieving savings from adopting the expansion. However, state lawmakers should be wary of accepting such analyses at face value.

    • Solutions:

      Medicaid Is Broken—Let the States Fix It

      The Wall Street Journal | by Paul Howard and Russell Sykes | October 15, 2012

      Block-granting Medicaid is the best way to deliver better, cost-effective care to the most vulnerable Americans.

    • Solutions:

      The Case for Reform: Prisons

      Right on Crime | August 1, 2012

      Prisons are supremely important, but they are also a supremely expensive government program, and thus prison systems must be held to the highest standards of accountability.

    • View All Solutions