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Massachusetts state budget (2009-2010)

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Note: This article was last updated in 2010. Click here for more recent information on state budgets and finances.


In January 2010, Gov. Deval Patrick revealed a $28.2 billion budget for FY 2011, a 3 percent increase over FY 2010. The budget included cuts worth $800 million and relied on $600 million in federal aid. "This budget is about people, not just numbers or line items. And for that fundamental reason, proposes to invest in jobs, education, health care and services for the most needy," said Patrick. Proposed budget cuts included: $3.2 million cut from state parks, reductions of film and life science tax credits worth $80 million and a repeal of sales-tax exemptions on soda, candy and smokeless tobacco worth $67 million.[1][2]

2008-2009 budget crisis

See also: Massachusetts state budget (2008-2009)

Accounting principles

See also: Massachusetts government accounting principles

Joseph DeNucci has been the Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since 1987. The Office of the Auditor of the Commonwealth publishes their audit reports online and is responsible for:[3]

  • Determining whether the Commonwealth's resources are properly safeguarded;
  • Determining whether such resources are properly and prudently used;
  • Evaluating internal controls to help insure integrity in financial management systems;
  • Determining whether computer systems and technology environment meet control objectives regarding security, integrity, and availability;
  • Evaluating management's economy and efficiency in it use of resources;
  • Determining and evaluating a program's results, benefits, or accomplishments; and
  • Ensuring that all audit results are fully disclosed to the public and the auditees.

The Institute for Truth in Accounting] (IFTA) rated Massachusetts “timely” in filing the state’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), the annual report of state and local governmental entities. IFTA rated 22 states timely, 22 states tardy, and 6 states as worst. IFTA does not consider Massachusetts' CAFRs, and those of the other states, to be accurate representations of the state’s financial condition because the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) basis does not include significant liabilities for the pension plans and for other post employment benefits, such as health care.[4] Massachusetts' CAFRs are published online by the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Martin J. Benison has been Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since 1999.[5]

Budget transparency

As of 2009, Massachusetts had no statewide, official spending database online. However, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, which "provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies," tracks actual spending in real and nominal terms using a "Budget Browser."[6]

Legislators in favor of transparency, headed by Massachusetts State Senator Cynthia Creem, have introduced a budget amendment that would require the Secretary of Administration and Finance to create a spending transparency website.[7]

Economic stimulus transparency

  • Massachusetts would receive approximately $704 million from the federal government under H.R. 1586, a $26 billion plan to give states money for Medicaid and education that the President signed into law on August 10, 2010.[8]
  • Massachusetts was expected to receive an estimated $3,579,139,180 in the first round of federal stimulus funds.[9]

Two Massachusetts projects were noted in Senator Coburn's and Senator McCain's "Summertime Blues, 100 stimulus projects that give taxpayers the blues" report. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provided the Hyannis Harbor Tours boat company with a $43,214 terrorism prevention grant.[10]

Error in ARRP

According to Recovery.gov, federal stimulus funds would go to 884 congressional districts, though there are only 435.[11][12]

The state of Massachusetts has 10 congressional districts, but the ARRP website showed six more that were set to receive funding. Non-existing districts were set to receive $29,882,326 to create/sustain at total of 189.9 jobs.[13]

Public employee salary information

See also: Massachusetts state government salary

See also

External links

Additional reading

Footnotes

  1. ↑ WBUR, "Patrick Budget Relies Heavily On Uncertain Federal Funding," January 28, 2010
  2. ↑ Cigar Aficionado, "Massachusetts Governor Calls for Huge Cigar Tax," February 3, 2010
  3. ↑ Office of the Auditor of the Commonwealth, "Authority/Responsibility," accessed October 26, 2009
  4. ↑ Institute for Truth in Accounting, “The Truth About Balanced Budgets—A Fifty State Study,” Page 35
  5. ↑ Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Web site, accessed October 26, 2009
  6. ↑ Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center
  7. ↑ Daily News Tribune, "Bringing Transparency to the Budget," June 9, 2009
  8. ↑ Federal Fund Information for States “ARRA FMAP Extension & Education Jobs Fund Totals” Aug. 11, 2010
  9. ↑ Wall Street Journal, "Stimulus Spending by State," March 12,2009
  10. ↑ "Summertime Blues, 100 stimulus projects that give taxpayers the blues" August 2010
  11. ↑ $6.4 Billion Stimulus goes to Phantom Districts, Watchdog.org, November 17, 2009
  12. ↑ Stimulus Creates Jobs in Non-Existent Congressional Districts, Watchdog.org, November 16, 2009
  13. ↑ Massachusetts, Watchdog.org, November 17, 2009
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