The House Ways & Means Committee released a $61.4 billion FY ’26 budget proposal on April 16, which has a combined traditional and wealth surtax spending about 6.4% higher than the budget Gov. Maura Healey signed last summer.
In his budget letter, Chairman Aaron Michlewitz noted, “$207 million is allocated for the Chapter 257 rates, a large and well-deserved increase for human service workers across the Commonwealth.”
This funding represents an increase of $34 million, an increase of 19.65%, from FY ’24. (The Council compared the Chapter 257 line item to the FY ’24 budget, rather than the FY ’25 budget, because the number of Chapter 257 rates reviewed by EOHHS alternate in proportion every other year).
Thanks to the advocacy from Providers’ Council members with CIES contracts, the budget included the following language:
“provided further, that the department shall spend not less than the amount spent in fiscal year 2025 for the young parents program and the competitive integrated employment services program.”
Other items of interest include:
- JUD line item 0339-1011 – Community-based Re-entry Programs – rose from $12.5 million to $16 million, an increase of 28.58%.
- DAR line item 2511-0105 – Emergency Food Assistance – rose from $42 million from to $55 million, a change of 30.95%.
- DYS line items 4200-0100 – Non-Res Services for Committee Population; 4200-0200 – Residential Services for Detained Population; 4200-0300 – Residential Services for Committed Population were funded at the same levels proposed in the Governors budget.
- DDS line items 5911-2000 – Transportation Services; 5920-2000 – Community Residential Services; 5920-2025 – Community Day and Work Programs; 5920-3000 – Respite Family Supports, were funded at the same levels proposed in the Governors budget.
- DTA line item 4401-1000 – Employment Service Program – dropped from $20.5 million to $18.8 million, a decrease of 8.27%.
- DPH line item 4512-0103 – HIV/AIDS Prevention Treatment and Services – increased from $31.8 million to 35 million, an increase of 9.90%.
- DCF line item 4800-1100 – Social Workers for Case Management – dropped from $334 million to $327 million, a decrease of 2.10%.
- DMH line item 5042-5000 – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – increased from $115 million to $128.5 million, a change of 11.73%.
- HLC line item 7004-0101 – Emergency Assistance – Family Shelter and Services – dropped from $325.2 million to $275.2 million, a decrease of 15.37%.
The preliminary analysis from the Providers’ Council, which tracks frequently discussed human services line items, is located here. You can also view the HWM budget itself at this link. To discuss any of these line items or ask that other line items be tracked, please contact Caroline O’Neill.
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