Representative Kate Hogan (D-Stow) and her colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature unanimously passed a $52.7 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). This budget upholds fiscal responsibility and makes targeted investments to strengthen the state’s economic foundation, protect the most vulnerable residents, and support the everyday needs of communities and families in the Commonwealth. 

Incorporated into the annual appropriations bill are Rep. Kate Hogan’s budget priorities for residents of the Third Middlesex District, which bring an infusion of state dollars to programs of local impact, including funding for facilities and infrastructure improvements, transportation, furniture banks, and water quality monitoring.  

“The FY23 Budget takes advantage of strong revenue returns and allows us to help constituents who are most in need, while addressing the challenges of a post-Covid world,” said Rep. Kate Hogan. “While this year’s budget includes significant increases in aid to cities and towns, it also makes investments to keep our economy stable and strong in the long-term and allows us to fund initiatives that help Massachusetts remain innovative, competitive and attractive.”  

“As Massachusetts residents and businesses continue to face discouraging economic uncertainty, the Legislature’s FY23 Budget responds to the financial challenges facing the Commonwealth by balancing a focus on immediate needs such as workforce development, with a focus on long-term investments that are designed to grow our economy in a sustainable way,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz, the Committee on Ways and Means, and all my colleagues in the House, as well as Senate President Karen Spilka and our partners in the Senate for the hard work and collaboration required to get this done.” 

Notable in the FY23 budget that was approved by the Legislature is: 

• Rainy day fund A transfer of funds into the Stabilization Fund, projecting an estimated historic balance of approximately $7.35 billion for this crucial ‘rainy day’ fund at the end of the fiscal year 

• Unrestricted aid $1.231 billion for Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), an increase of $63 million over FY22  
• Funding for mental and behavioral health crisis supports, including $20 million for the Behavioral Health, Access, Outreach and Support Trust Fund and $15 million for emergency department diversion initiatives  
• Reproductive health care $2 million in grants for improvements to reproductive health access, infrastructure, and safety 
• Health and human services workers Funds to bolster our human services workforce, including $270 million for rate increases for health and human service workers  
• Health insurance $50 million to prepare for the transition of individuals from MassHealth to the Health Connector with a Connector Care Pilot Program  

• Safety management $187 million to fund the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) as well as $226.2 million for a safety and workforce reserve to address ongoing safety concerns identified by the Federal Transit Administration’s Safety Management Inspection 

The budget includes large investments in education, including: 

• Student Opportunity Act (SOA) $150 million for the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) Investment fund, bringing its balance up to $500 million, ensuring resources will be utilized in the future to support equitable funding for our most vulnerable students  
• Early education and care $1.18 billion for early education and care, including $365 million to begin implementing recommendations made by the Early Education and Care Economic Review Commission and $250 million in stabilization grants for early education and childcare 
• Job training More than $100 million to boost job training programs, help connect unemployed and under-employed people with higher paying jobs, and support career services that help students gain skills to apply for future jobs  

• Free school lunches $110 million for a year-long extension of universal school meals  
• Genocide education $1.5 million for the Genocide Education Trust Fund  

Rep. Hogan’s budget amendments for the Third Middlesex District include: 

• $150,000 for improvements to the Hudson MA Senior Center 
• $75,000 for Fresh Start Furniture Bank  

• $75,000 for facilities improvements at ArtSpace Maynard   
• $75,000 for Wheeler Road Bridge design in Stow 
• $75,000 for Maynard transportation shuttle 
• $25,000 for Town of Bolton culverts 
• $30,000 for OARS, Inc. for water quality monitoring  

Additional budget amendments impacting the Third Middlesex District include: 

• $30.6 million for Emergency Food Assistance and $20 million in Healthy Incentives Program 
• $219 million for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters, more than $200 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) 
• $96.5 million for regional transit authorities, a $2.5 million increase from FY22  

Also included is Rep. Hogan’s amendment to establish an oral health special commission and needs assessment. The oral health commission would be charged with conducting a statewide oral health needs assessment, evaluating gaps in access to oral health care and services across diverse groups and ages. The commission would also provide recommendations regarding the oral health workforce, building infrastructure as well as developing policies that address oral health disparities, increase public awareness and work towards health equity.