A Conference Committee of lawmakers filed a compromised FY ’25 budget last night, a $58 billion spending plan that allocates a record amount of funds to the human services sector and includes language that would create a study of the pay disparity between community-based human services workers and state employees with similar jobs.
The proposal includes $390 million for the Chapter 257 Reserve, representing an increase of $160 million, or nearly 70%, from FY ’23. (The Council compared the Chapter 257 line item to the FY ’23 budget, rather than the FY ’24 budget, because the number of Chapter 257 rates reviewed by EOHHS alternate in proportion every other year.)
Additionally, the inclusion of language that would create a study of the pay disparity between community-based human services workers and state employees with similar jobs is a big win for the human services sector and Council members. The language comes directly from the reporting component of our livable wage bill that did not advance this session. Thanks to Council members who made phone calls and contacted your legislators in support of the language, which had only been present in the Senate budget. We also appreciate the efforts of The Caring Force, who sent more than 800 emails to legislators in support of this critical report.
The preliminary analysis from the Providers’ Council, which tracks frequently discussed human services line items, is located here. To discuss any of these line items or ask that other line items be tracked, please contact Caroline O’Neill.
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