With state surplus, Gov. Charlie Baker files $2.4 billion supplemental budget for COVID response, child care and infrastructure

Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday submitted a $2.4 billion supplemental finances proposal that leans intensely into the state’s surplus revenues, resulting in a internet expense of $1.6 billion for big investments in community wellness for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, kid care, rental aid and road infrastructure, among other funding categories.

Surplus revenues sign the “continued toughness of the Massachusetts overall economy,” Administration and Finance Secretary Michael Heffernan claimed in a statement Friday afternoon.

Baker, whose administration this 7 days appreciably scaled back masking steering for totally vaccinated people today as Massachusetts emerges from the omicron surge, integrated $700 million for COVID initiatives in the new spending budget draft. Web expenses would most likely complete $439 million owing to federal reimbursements, the administration reported.

The most up-to-date pandemic investments are intended to increase the $101 million COVID monthly bill Baker signed into legislation very last weekend — and they would protect other costs tied to coronavirus tests, administering monoclonal antibody treatments, running vaccination web sites and sustaining “sufficient” staffing at health and fitness treatment facilities.

Within just the funds proposal, Baker stated he wants to exempt the $500 COVID quality payments for necessary workers from the point out earnings tax.

The governor allocated $450 million in stabilization grants for little one treatment providers and $140 million for distinctive education and learning educational facilities, the Baker administration explained. The proposal calls for $401 million for “rate enhancements” amid human assistance companies — nevertheless Massachusetts will be dependable for only $55 million, with federal funding masking $346 million.

Help for kids and families also involves $100 million for matching grants at youth-targeted nonprofits, $60 million for rental guidance and $8.4 million for foster treatment support. Baker proposed that sure eviction protections, slated to expire on April 1, be extended right until Jan. 1, 2023.

Baker outlined an addition $100 million for the state’s Chapter 90 program for area transportation and infrastructure networks, in addition $100 million for highway repairs tied to wintertime destruction. There’s also $150 million in grants for local climate modify initiatives.

Baker urged the point out Legislature to critique his proposal “promptly” thanks to time-sensitive needs.

“Massachusetts remains in a sturdy fiscal place, which allows us to use surplus Fiscal 12 months 2022 revenues to sustain our endeavours to answer to COVID-19 and make investments in locations like early instruction, human expert services, housing and additional,” Baker stated in a assertion. “Thanks to our mindful management of point out finances in partnership with the Legislature and the resilience of our economic climate, revenues continue to exceed projections, earning Massachusetts properly-positioned to make these investments.”

The governor past month unveiled his proposed $48.5 billion spending budget for the coming fiscal calendar year, which contains a sweeping tax break bundle that totals $693 million. It would provide aid to very low-profits people, renters, dad and mom and seniors.

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