Rep. Biele Helps Pass $56.2 Billion House FY24 Budget

Invests in transportation, local aid, public safety, and public health and recovery services

BOSTON—Recently, State Representative David Biele joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing the House’s Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget. Funded at $56.2 billion, the House’s FY24 budget provides strong support for the Commonwealth’s cities and towns, and among many critical investments, includes significant funding for education, transportation, health care, housing, and workforce development.

“The House budget responds to the needs of residents through targeted investments in programs
and services, such as transportation, public safety and recovery services, that will help individuals and families in our community,” said Rep. Biele. “I am thankful to Speaker Mariano, Chair Michlewitz, and my colleagues in the House for their support in making these crucial investments in our community while also increasing resources to the City of Boston for education and local aid from last year’s levels.”

Due to the Commonwealth’s strong revenue collections, the House’s FY24 budget provides increased financial support in several critical areas. Additionally, the House recently passed a comprehensive tax relief package targeted at residents across all income levels that would provide $654 million in direct financial relief in FY24. As a result of the same fiscally responsible leadership that has allowed for tax relief, the state’s Stabilization Fund is estimated to stand at a record high of $9.04 billion.

Transportation

To address ongoing safety concerns at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
that have been identified by the Federal Transit Administration’s Safety Management Inspection,
the House budget allocates $65 million, as well as $250 million for capital projects, and $5
million to explore the feasibility of implementing a means-tested fare program.

Local Aid

The FY24 House budget funds Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) at $1.250 billion and Chapter 70 education funding at $6.584 billion. The budget funds the third year of a six-year implementation plan for the Student Opportunity Act (SOA), which was enacted in 2019 to ensure that public schools have the resources needed to provide high-quality education to students across the state, regardless of zip code or income level. It provides an additional $30 per pupil in minimum aid supplements, bringing the minimum aid total to $60 per pupil.

Locally, the City of Boston is set to receive $230.7 million in Chapter 70 education funding and $222.9 million in Unrestricted General Government Aid under the House budget– representing an increase from last year’s budget, and providing additional resources for the City of Boston.

Public Health and Recovery

The House budget proposes funding the Department of Public Health at $962 million and the
Department of Mental Health at $1.12 billion. Investments include:

• $584.9 million for adult support services
• $208.2 million for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS), including $3.5
  million for opening of five new recovery centers
• $117.9 million for children's mental health
• $42.9 million for the Early Intervention program
• $1.25 million for prostate cancer awareness, education, and research

Public Safety

The House budget also includes the following allocations for public safety programs, including:

• $12.3 million for the Shannon Anti-Gang Grant Program
• $59.6 million for the Executive Office of Public Safety
• $38.4 million for the Department of Fire
  Services, the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, and our local fire departments.
• $532.5 million for the Department of State Police
• $824.2 million for the Department of Correction
• $702.2 million for the Commonwealth’s 14 Sheriff’s offices
• $500,000 to combat human trafficking

Locally, the House budget adopted amendments filed by Rep. Biele to provide for local public safety programs, including funding for dedicated state police patrols along state properties in South Boston, the Boston Fire Department Training Academy, and the Boston Fire Department’s hazardous materials response team.

Speaker Mariano and the House Committee on Ways & Means introduced their FY24 budget
proposal on April 12, 2023, following a review of the Governor’s proposal and a series of public
hearings. The budget passed the House of Representatives 156-0, and now goes to the Senate for
consideration.