The Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Committee has proposed increased funding for education in its fiscal year 2020 budget proposal, but with few new revenue sources, advocacy groups are questioning whether it goes far enough.
The budget proposal includes a total of $42.7 billion in spending, a 3.1 percent increase from fiscal year 2019.
“I am proud that my first budget as chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means is a fiscally balanced budget that fulfills our commitments and focuses on areas of fundamental importance to our Commonwealth,” said Sen. Michael Rodrigues of Westport. “By targeting investments in education, mental and behavioral health, workforce development and economic opportunity, this budget is aligned with the Senate’s commitment to ensure equity and access for all people.”
The budget would provide $5.17 billion in Chapter 70 funding for education, an increase of $269 million from last year. This is approximately $50 million more than the House budget proposal and $68 million more than Governor Charlie Baker’s proposal.
Other major education investments include $345 million for special education, $73.8 million for regional school transportation and $100 million for charter school reimbursements.
Merrie Najimy, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, said in a statement, “Although the Senate proposal is a good first step, the only way to make sure this is not just a one-time increase is for the Legislature to pass a bill that begins implementing all of the Foundation Budget Review Commission’s recommendations, addresses other shortcomings of the school funding formula and guarantees continued increases in the future.”
Najimy also criticized the budget for not providing enough funding for higher education, as the plan freezes tuition and fees for the University of Massachusetts system without providing other funding resources, which UMass administrators believe will lead to budget cuts.
In a joint statement by organizations backing the Fund Our Future campaign, unions and activist groups promoted passing the Promise Act to further fund education in the state.
“We will not accept partial progress,” the statement said, “because all students deserve fully-funded schools and colleges, no matter whether their families are rich or poor; whether they’re black, brown, or white; whether they live in a big city, small suburb, or rural community, and no matter what special needs they have.”
The Senate budget also includes $16.55 billion in funding for MassHealth, which includes $150.2 million for substance abuse treatment and intervention, $93.4 million for children’s mental health services, $489 million for adult support services and $16.5 million for family resource centers.
Housing investments in the budget include $178 million for emergency assistance family shelters and $110 million for the state’s rental voucher program.
Some advocates expressed dismay that the budget proposal failed to include sufficient new sources of revenue to help pay for desired programs.
“The people of Massachusetts have long-deferred dreams of bold improvements to education, transportation and investments in programs that ensure all residents have the chance to succeed,” said Marie-Frances Rivera, president of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. “While the Senate Ways and Means Committee does not propose any significant new revenue, it does include some modest revenue initiatives that the Governor proposed in his budget and the House did not include. [But] without significant new revenue, the Commonwealth will continue to put on hold any initiatives that require major investment.”
