On January 22, Governor Maura Healey presented her FY ‘26 budget proposal this afternoon, a $61.5 billion spending plan, including $1.95 billion in surtax spending.
The proposal includes $207 million for the Chapter 257 Reserve, which 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).
EOHHS noted the $207 million in new Chapter 257 rates will allow it to maintain the 53rd percentile Bureau of Labor Statistics benchmark used in human services rates over the last several years.
The full budget and EOHHS budget were posted online. To view the full budget proposal please click here. To view EOHHS’s budget, please click here.
Other items of interest include:
- EEC line item 3000-3060 – DCF and DTA Related Child Care – rose from $356.6 million to $448.2 million, an increase of 25.69%.
- MRC line item 4120-2000 – Vocational Rehabilitation for People with Disabilities – increased from $26.2 million to $28.8 million, an increase of 9.98%.
- DTA line item 4401-1000 – Employment Services Program – rose from $18.8 million to $20.6, a increase of 8.84%.
- DPH line item 4512-2000 – Bureau of Substance Abuse Services – decreased 8.41%, dropping from $194.5 million to $178 million.
- DPH line item 4513-1020 – Early Intervention Services – increased 22.07%, rising from $30.9 million to $37.7 million.
- DCF line item 4800-0041 – Congregate Care Services – dropped from $495.9 million to $463.8 million, a decrease of 6.48%.
- DCF line item 4800-0200 – DCF Family Resource Centers – decreased 16.50%, dropping from $33.8 million to $28.2 million.
- DMH line item 5042-5000 – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – dropped from $131.3 million to $115 million, a decrease of 12.38%.
- DMH line item 5095-0015 – Inpatient Facilities and Community-Based Mental Health – rose from $345.7 million to $376.1 million, an increase of 8.78%.
- DDS line item 5920-2000 – Community Residential Services – increased from $1.7 billion to $2 billion, a 18.86% increase.
- DDS line item 5920-3000 – Respite Family Supports – rose from $119.4 million to $123.9 million, an increase of 3.77%.
- HLC line item 7004-9024 – Mass. Rental Voucher Program – rose from $219 million to $253.3 million, an increase of 15.54%.
- HLC line item 7004-0101 – Emergency Assistance — Family Shelter and Services – dropped from $326 million to $325.3 million, a decrease of 0.25%. Gov. Healey filed a supplemental budget on January 26, requesting an additional $425 million from a reserve account to maintain the EA Shelter system for the next six months.
- OAI line item 9110-1630 – Home Care Services – rose from $236.9 million to $278.7 million, an increase of 17.63%.
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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