SOUTHWICK – State Representatives Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick) and Donald F. Humason, Jr. (R-Westfield) joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass a deficiency supplemental budget which allocates additional funds to existing programs and initiatives.
This spending bill is the result of an $82 million consolidated net surplus (CNS) from fiscal year 2013 due to above-benchmark tax collections and reversion by state agencies. The legislation also includes $20 million to provide immediate funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to ensure that Massachusetts’s families will receive these benefits if the federal government shutdown continues.
“By passing this legislation, we have demonstrated our commitment and fiscal responsibility to Western Massachusetts residents and business owners by funding services to help fuel our local economy” said Rep. Boldyga. “This vote ensured funding early education programs for our children and will provide heating assistance in the upcoming months for the poor and elderly citizens of our community”. The unanimous vote was a great effort of bipartisan partnership throughout the House to support the entire Commonwealth. The House and Senate are hopeful the Governor will support the needs of the people and some of our most critical needs.
“I joined with my legislative colleagues to pass supplemental budget that closes the books on fiscal year 2013. The budget takes care of unpaid bills from last fiscal year as well as supports LIHEAP, a service that many low income and elderly families rely on over the winter months to stay warm. While LIHEAP is a federally subsidized program, we thought it was important to look out for some of our more vulnerable friends and neighbors.”, said Rep. Humason.
The supplemental budget provides various financial provisions including:
· $25 million for the Massachusetts Community Preservation Trust Fund;
· $19 million for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Investment Fund;
· $10 million for the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund
· $11.5 million rates subsidy for early education and care salaries and benefits;
The deficiency supplemental budget passed the House and Senate unanimously. It now sits on Governor Patrick’s desk for final approval.
