Healey says Massachusetts is "tightening our belts" with $56 billion budget plan
BOSTON - Gov. Maura Healey unveiled her $56 billion budget proposal on Wednesday, with plans to improve education and transportation, plus funds to tackle the ongoing migrant crisis.
"So, in fact, we are tightening our belts," said Healey.
The governor said the state is in a tough spot, with tax revenues flat and inflation still high.
"We can't spend more than we have. That's my basic operating principle," said Healey.
Her plan calls for increased spending in childcare, transportation and the migrant crisis. About 7,500 people are in the state's homeless shelter system right now and more than 3,500 of them are migrants, with the number growing. Healey's proposal would funnel $325 million to emergency assistance shelters and ask the legislature to make up for a $100 million shortfall.
"We've got to be smart. It's an evolving situation," said Healey. She called her proposal "balanced and responsible" but the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation disagreed, saying it's likely to hit the billion-dollar mark.
"Once those resources are gone, have we turned a $300 million a year program to a billion-dollar program?" said Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. "Which probably isn't sustainable and if we don't do that, then you're talking about how do we adjust that program to get costs in line?"
Some state programs are already seeing proposed budget cuts, like Massachusetts Head Start.
"It's going to limit access to childcare services and it's really going to harm the educators who need to provide services to our young children," said Michelle Haimowitz of the Massachusetts Head Start Association.
There are also plans to close the state's oldest men's prison, MCI Concord.
"It's going to mean a savings of about $16 million a year," said Healey. "We want to make the smart choices up front."
MCI Concord is expected to close by the summer. About 300 inmates will be transferred to other facilities. It's unclear what will happen to the property.