Oct 29, 2009 2:32 pm US/Eastern
Services Cut, Local Aid Spared In State Cuts
WORCESTER (WBZ) ―
Gov. Deval Patrick plans to cut up to 2,000 state jobs to close a huge budget gap, but he will not touch local aid to communities or local education dollars.
At a Chamber of Commerce event in Worcester Thursday afternoon, the governor revealed how he plans to cut $600 million from the budget.
Read: FY 2010 Budget Summary
LAYOFFS
He gave no details on any immediate job cuts, but said he has told state agencies to prepare for $35 million in personnel savings. He has already said some layoffs might be might be avoided through union concessions.
The layoffs could begin as soon as next week. The governor said the state is negotiating with unions but "we cannot talk indefinitely."
REDUCE SPENDING
Patrick wants to reduce spending across state government by $352 million, including $277 million from the executive branch.
A small sample of some of the programs that will see cuts: $18 million is being cut from regional school busing, $10.3 million from the Department of Mental Health, $1.7 million from employment services for disabled adults, and $5.6 million from the state's elder Prescription Advantage program.
The AARP was among the first of what are sure to be many organizations urging Governor Patrick to reconsider his cuts. Prescription Advantage, they said, "has already taken as big a hit as it can handle," through two rounds of cuts in the last year.
"Prescription Advantage is a lifeline for thousands of seniors who are struggling to afford their medications," the AARP statement read. "Further cuts… are short sighted, as prescription drugs help keep seniors healthy and out of more expensive care."
Governor Patrick is also asking the Legislature for authority to make $75 million in cuts to legislative, judicial and other state departments.
MORE FURLOUGH DAYS
Patrick is ordering 4,000 managers within the executive branch – including himself - to take up to nine furlough days through the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends in June.
TAX AMNESTY
The administration also hopes to generate $20 million from a tax amnesty program.
ELIMINATE QUINN BILL, 2 HOLIDAYS
Patrick believes there will be additional savings by phasing out the controversial Quinn Bill and by eliminating the Bunker Hill and Evacuation Day holidays in Suffolk County. Legislation to eliminate the so-called hack holidays is being filed.
BREAKDOWN OF CUTS
Here's an approximate breakdown of the $277 million:
- Executive Office of Education – $111.72 million
- Executive Office of Health and Human Services - $81.7 million
- Executive Office of Public Safety and Security – $21.4 million
- Executive Office of Administration and Finance – $15.7 million
- Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works – $13.5 million
- Executive Office of Housing Economic Development – $11 million
- Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs – $9.4 million
- Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development - $3.3 million
CUTS BY DEPARTMENT INCLUDE (Click each Executive Office for a further breakdown):
Executive Office of Education:
- $32 million from the University of Massachusetts
- $31.5 million from elementary and secondary education
- $16.5 million from the department of early education
- $16 million from community colleges
- $14.4 million from other state colleges
Executive Office of Health and Human Services:
- $36.9 million from Office of Children, Youth and Family Services,
- $18.7 million from the Office of Health Services
- $12.7 million from the office of Disabilities and Community Services
- $7.1 million from the Department of Elder Affairs
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security:
- $6.7 million from the Department of Corrections
- $4.2 million from State Police
Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works:
- $6.9 million from the Highway Department
- $4 million from the Registry of Motor Vehicles
Executive Office of Administration and Finance:
- $10 million from the Department of Revenue
Executive Office of Housing Economic Development:
- $7.2 million from Dept. of Business Development
- $2.9 million from Dept. of Housing and Community Development
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs:
- $4.3 million from Dept. of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
- $2.7 million from Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP)
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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