The House and Senate reached agreement on $3.76 billion spending package that will help ease the financial strain brought on by challenging economic conditions in Massachusetts and across the country and also close the books on Fiscal Year 2022.
In addition to the $3.76 billion in direct investments, this agreement includes $2.94 billion for one-time tax relief that is being returned to an estimated three million taxpayers over the coming weeks.
Notably, this agreement accounts for all of the FY22 surplus resources (between direct investments and 62F tax relief), while dedicating $500 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), ensuring $1.75 billion in ARPA resources remain for future use.
Appropriations
Over $1.4 billion invested to support health and human services programs, including:
- $350 million for hospitals that have become fiscally strained during the pandemic
- $225 million for rate increases for human service workers and providers
- $200 million for COVID-19 response efforts
- $195 million for nursing facilities and rest homes
- $80 million for Community Health Centers
- $20 million to reduce gun violence and related trauma throughout the Commonwealth, including:
- $3 million for a grant program to support school safety infrastructure improvements
- $2 million to provide behavioral health-related supports and resources in schools to reduce instances of gun violence
- $20 million to bridge impending federal cuts to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) programs and maintain critical victim service programs
- $17.5 million for reproductive and family planning services
- $14 million for facilities that treat individuals with an alcohol or substance use disorder in the commonwealth
- $5 million to support harm reduction efforts and services to address substance use disorder in the commonwealth
- $2.5 million for grants to support the nursing workforce talent pipeline
$540 million invested to support clean energy and climate resiliency initiatives, including:
- $250 million to accelerate and support clean energy initiatives, including:
- $100 million to promote and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, through the MOR-EV program as well as supports for the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure
- $100 million for ports and port infrastructure to support the clean energy economy
- $50 million for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to accelerate the transition to and expansion of renewable energy
- $175 million for the conservation and improvement of publicly owned lands and investments in green spaces, with an emphasis for investments in environmental justice communities
- $115 million for the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, including:
- $15 million for planning and implementing water pollution abatement projects in any watershed designated as a nitrogen sensitive area
$409.5 million invested to support affordable housing, including:
- $304.5 million to support and boost housing production, including:
- $100 million for the Commonwealth Builder Program to support the production of for-sale, below market housing to expand homeownership opportunities for first-time homebuyers and socially disadvantaged individuals in communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic
- $100 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund established to support the creation and preservation of affordable housing
- $100 million to support the production of workforce housing
- $50 million for the Equitable Developers Financing Program to support the development of new housing in certain underserved communities
- $25 million for regional low threshold housing to support homeless or housing unstable individuals with substance use disorder
- $20 million for housing options and additional support services and resources to address the needs of immigrants and refugees
- $10 million for public housing redevelopment
Over $500 million invested to support early education, economic development, workforce development and community support initiatives, including:
- $150 million for early education and care providers through the continuation of the Commonwealth Cares for our Children (C3) stabilization grant program
- $112 million to support the MBTA’s ongoing efforts to address the Federal Transportation Administration’s staffing and safety directives
- $100 million for the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust fund to offset estimated overpayments made during the course of the pandemic
- $75 million for investments in broadband infrastructure and access across the commonwealth
- $57 million for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), ensuring relief to families rising energy costs.
- $50 million to promote the attainment of debt-free higher education for students pursuing careers in high-demand industries, such as health care, education, and cybersecurity
- $25 million for food security infrastructure grants
- $12 million to support the agricultural and blue economy sectors
- $2.5 million for computer science teacher development
