FINAL fy24 budget
BOSTON (8/10/23) - On Wednesday, April 9th, 2023, Gov. Healey signed a $56 billion FY24 spending plan into law, approving a budget nearly 6.2% over the FY23 Budget. Gov. Healey vetoed $272 million from the Conference Committee report approved by the House and the Senate, as well as an outside section related to one-time funding. Gov. Healey also sent back eight outside sections with proposed amendments to the Legislature. The House and Senate have until November 15th to take up any veto overrides, unless they suspend their rules. November 15th is the final day for formal sessions this year.
You can review the FY24 Budget here.
Read our article on the annual state budget process for more details.
Investment in the Creative Sector
Thanks to sustained advocacy from the creative sector and unified support from our policymakers, Gov. Healey approved $25 million for the Mass Cultural Council’s line item (0640-0300). This is the amount the agency requested and what was reflected in Gov. Healey’s H.1 Budget, as well as the House and Senate Budgets. The line item also includes $895,000 in earmarks for specified projects and arts groups across the Commonwealth.
Massachusetts now ranks 8th in the nation for annual state funding for the arts according to a new report from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. The FY24 allocation also ensures $3.71 of arts spending for every resident of the Commonwealth, bringing us significantly closer to our goal of securing $5 per capita for creativity.
Travel and Tourism
The FY24 Budget includes funding for the Massachusetts’ Marketing Partnership, which includes the operations and programs of the Office of Travel and Tourism through three line items:
7008-0990, allocates $6.87M for the operations of the Mass Office of Travel and Tourism, specific earmarks for tourism and cultural programs, and $3M for recovery funding for the Tourism Sector. This line item is $3.8M less than FY23 primarily due to a reduction in recovery support funding.
7008-1116, allocates $28.5M in earmarks for local economic development projects. Some arts and cultural organizations and programs are included in these earmarks. This is $11M more than FY23.
7008-1300, allocates $128,703 for the Massachusetts International Trade Office, about $6,000 more than FY23.
Other Budget Highlights:
The FY24 Budget also includes the following policy highlights:
Divides an anticipated $1 billion from Fair Share Amendment revenue into $524 million for education and $477 million for transportation;
Launches the "MassReconnect" program supporting free community college for students ages 25 and older;
Permanent universal school meals option;
Increases Chapter 70 K-12 public education funding by $594 million or 9.9%; Chapter 70 is allocated to every local and regional school district in Massachusetts;
Includes $475 million in Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants to early education providers;
Free phone calls and communication for incarcerated individuals and their families;
Increases funding for the emergency assistance family shelter program to $325 million or 48% more than the FY23 Budget;
Makes permanent a pandemic-era eviction diversion program, requiring courts to pause eviction proceedings for failure to pay rent if a tenant has a pending application for rental aid;
Launches a pilot program increasing eligibility for ConnectorCare health insurance; ConnectorCare offers $0 or low monthly premiums, low out-of-pocket costs, and no deductibles for eligible recipients. Eligibility will shift from 300% to 500% of the federal poverty level.
What’s Not in the Budget
Gov. Healey agreed to hold $581 million in the budget for an eventual tax relief package.
What Now?
The FY24 Budget is proof of the Massachusetts creative sector’s power to drive the investments we need when we coordinate our advocacy and leverage our influence. Thank you to everyone who signed onto our FY24 Budget advocacy letters, called or wrote your legislators, and encouraged your neighbors to share their support for the creative sector! And thank you to leaders on Beacon Hill for hearing out your constituents and acting to support a strong creative economy.
We encourage you to thank your legislators for their part in this victory. You can use MASSCreative’s Find My Legislator Form to look up your elected officials.
While you’re at it - our advocacy doesn’t end with the budget! Ask your legislators to co-sponsor the Creative Sector Agenda so we can continue to build on the accomplishments of this historic legislative year.
