BOSTON – State Representative Paul Heroux joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass a supplemental budget that provides critical funds to various state departments and fully funds the charter school reimbursement program through a $27.6 million allocation.
The $144 million financial package makes important investments to maintain and extend essential services and programs including housing, education, and health and human services.
As part of the House’s continued leadership in reforming the Department of Children & Families (DCF), the mid-year budget includes $10.4 million for DCF to help lower caseloads.
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“Massachusetts currently enjoys an AA+ bond average, the highest in its history, and our unemployment rate continues to fall,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “This spending package reflects and extends the fiscally-prudent and targeted strategies that have helped us achieve that growth.”
“This supplemental budget represents the House’s continued policy of responsible investment not only to meet the Commonwealth’s obligations but to target carefully the time-sensitive financial support necessary to maintain vital services,” Representative Brian S. Dempsey (D – Haverhill), Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee said. “Through this bill, we accomplish our goal by providing funding for increased caseloads in the Department of Children and Families and the CPCS Private Bar Advocates, and by fulfilling our Fiscal Year 2014 charter school obligations. We also include resources to ensure that our veterans receive support through state programs and services.”
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The supplementary budget also provides:
- $6.2 million for housing and homelessness. This will money will cover existing deficiencies and allow the department to prepare for the creation of new beds;
- More than $500,000 to improve caseload management for veterans’ agents;
- More than $11,300,000 for the Department of Developmental Services;
- Funds to cover new enrollment in the state’s Group Insurance Commission.
