State Government

Senate approves budget, next up negotiations with House

Senate approves budget, next up negotiations with House

Spending plan sets aside $575m for tax relief

By Chris Lisinski State Government, Taxes and Budget Issues 0 Comments May 26, 2023

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE ANNUAL STATE budget season moved to the next phase Thursday evening as the Senate unanimously approved a nearly $56 billion spending plan that ramps up expenditures while setting aside hundreds of millions of dollars for a tax relief plan that hasn’t been unveiled. Senators voted 40-0 to finalize their rewrite(...)

Healey names Gobi director of rural affairs

Her departure for newly created post will trigger special election

An online lottery will hurt Main Street retailers

Stores cannot absorb another government-induced revenue hit

Healey names former Worcester city manager as housing secretary

Augustus says he will work closely with local communities

Barriers going up on bridge to prevent suicide jumps

Grieving mother led charge on French King Bridge, but what about other spans?

Energy storage facilities hit regulatory black hole

Siting board says it has no jurisdiction over projects in Carver, Medway

Senate budget embraces in-state tuition for undocumented students

Tax relief in ‘same ballpark’ as House; online lottery not included

Spilka following different path on tax relief

Says Senate will take up tax package sometime after budget is done

Arrigo has big challenge ahead at DCR

Beacon Hill needs to provide the resources to turn agency around

Healey brings more women into governor’s office

Of her 52 employees, 69% are women

Colman M. Herman

April tax revenues plunge 23% below forecasted levels

Leaders on Beacon Hill say tax package still in play

A big chunk of lobbying in Mass. is not tracked

Cities, towns are active on Beacon Hill but their activity treated differently

Connecticut taking different approach to utility regulation

Seeks to link economic compensation to performance

Fare debate: Give low-income riders a break

Means-tested fare would save eligible riders about $500 a year

Fare debate: Make buses free to all

Increases ridership, improves service, helps drivers

End the DPU’s stall on municipal electricity aggregation

Removing bureaucratic roadblocks could save money, boost renewables

Stand-alone housing secretariat moves forward

Senate approves Healey reorganization; House yet to act

Why the top 1 percent of taxpayers matter

In 2019, they accounted for 23% of incomes taxes paid

Eileen McAnneny

House, Healey set different priorities for millionaire tax money

House prioritizes school meals, MBTA funding, ‘green’ schools

More second-guessing of state’s I-90 Allston work

MassDOT board approves $86m repair contract for elevated section of Turnpike

New DPU chair hails from West Virginia

Van Nostrand appointed, along with CLF’s Rubin

Healey setting new tone with Legislature

At budget hearing, she signals willingness to listen, collaborate

Senate leader calls for banning Avangrid from future projects

Rodrigues takes hardline stance on company’s move to terminate wind farm contract

Hao dives from private sector into state government

‘It’s not an obvious career choice,’ she says

Healey tells business group no one will compete harder

On radio show, she talks of eliminating ‘tax outliers’

Budget sets up ‘system’ for millionaire tax money

Money will be segregated and used for education, transportation

Healey files a ‘unicorn’ of a state budget

Proposal cuts taxes, sets money aside, and boosts spending to record levels

Back-channel talks on Commonwealth Wind

Healey, utilities said to be open to ‘contract modifications’

Decarbonization road map has some gaping holes

Power reliability and cost need to be addressed

Arnold R. Wallenstein

Time to address equity in public transportation

Regional transit authorities serve 55% of population but get 7% of state transportation funding

Tepper names former colleague to head DOER

Mahony to become 'epicenter of clean energy transition'