$30.6 Billion Budget Arrives At Governor Patick's Desk
BOSTON (AP) - The Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate have approved a compromise $30.6 billion state budget for 2012.
Senators voted 33-4 to approve the spending plan on Friday. That vote followed a 150-2 House vote.
The budget's late passage came 12 hours into the new fiscal year because lengthy talks by House and Senate negotiators delayed filing of the compromise bill until Thursday night. No further amendments could be made by lawmakers Friday.
The bill includes no new taxes, but cuts funding to many state agencies and limits municipal workers' ability to bargain over their health insurance.
Gov. Deval Patrick now has 10 days to sign it and make any line-item vetoes.
He previously signed a 10-day stopgap budget to fund critical state services until a permanent spending plan is in place.
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