House Ways & Means Budget FY2019

April 11, 2018

On Wednesday, April 11, 2018, the Massachusetts Legislature's House Ways and Means (HWM) Budget released it's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2019 . The HWM Budget essentially recommends funding at the same level of the Governors FY19 proposal.  So while this is not include or reflect an increase in funding for sexual and domestic violence services, it is great news that there are NO proposed cuts in this budget!

JDI created this budget chart that outlines what the funding levels were in FY2018, what the Governor proposed, what the HWM has proposed and what JDI is advocating for.

Note that the simple math makes it look like there is a $2.7 million increase over FY2018 levels in the DPH 4513—1130 line item for sexual and domestic violence services.  In fact $2.2m of that amount is a budget adjustment that accounts for an annualization of the additional money that is needed to fully fund contracts for FY18 after the rates for services were implemented by the Commonwealth...for the same level of service! In other words, it does not mean that additional or new services will be available with these funds.  The additional $500,000 most likely is intended to support the Governor's request for a public awareness campaign in FY2019.  

Bottom line, JDI will continue to advocate for a total of $37,611,883 for F2019, which represents an additional $3.5m for RCCs and Community Based Domestic Violence programs.  These funds are essential in supporting local programs to meet the emerging and critical needs of survivors and their families, and to prevent future violence from occurring.

Please contact your State Representative today and urge them to support the budget request put forth by Jane Doe Inc. on behalf of all our member programs!

You can find your elected official here: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema//BAL/MYELECTIONINFO.ASPX.