The Senate Ways and Means Committee has released a $61.32 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, recommending a 6.3% increase in spending. While this is lower than the 7.4% increase proposed by Governor Maura Healey and the 6.6% increase passed by the House, it still more than doubles last year’s rate of spending growth.
Chapter 257 continues to be funded at the $207 million proposed by both the House Ways and Means Committee and the Governor, which represents an increase of $34 million, or 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 expend not less than the amounts expended in fiscal year 2025 for the young parents program and the competitive integrated employment services program.”
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.
The full budget was posted online today at approximately 1:30 p.m.
You can also view the SWM budget itself at this link.
Other items of interest include:
- JUD line item 0339-1011 – Community-based Re-entry Programs – were funded at the same levels proposed in the HWM budget.
- DAR line item 2511-0105 – Emergency Food Assistance – dropped from $55 million to about $42.1 million, a 23% decrease from the HWM proposal.
- DTA line item 4401-1000 – Employment Services Program – were funded at $20.5 million as proposed by the governor, a 9.01% increase from the HWM proposal.
- 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 HWM budget.
- DPH line item 4512-0103 – HIV/AIDS Prevention Treatment and Services – were funded at $31.8 million as proposed by the Governor, a 9% decrease from the HWM proposal.
- DPH line item 4512-0200 – Bureau of Substance Addiction Services -dropped from $194.4 million to $179.6 million, a decrease of 7.62% from the HWM budget.
- DPH line item 4513-1136 – Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Services – rose from $74.7 million to $79.8 million, an increase of 6.79%from the HWM proposal.
- DCF line item 4800-1100 – Social Workers for Case Management – were funded at the same levels proposed in the HWM budget.
- DMH line item 5042-5000 – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – increased from $128.5 million to $131.5 million, an increase of 2.32% from the HWM proposal.
- DMH line item 5046-0000 – Adult Mental Health and Support Services – increased from $661.9 million to $689.9 million, an increase of 4.24% from the HWM proposal.
- DMH line item 5047-0001 – Emergency Services and Mental Health Care – were funded at the same levels proposed in the HWM 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 HWM budget.
- HLC line item 7004-0101 – Emergency Assistance – Family Shelter and Services – were funded at the same levels proposed in the HWM budget, which represented $50 million decrease from governor’s budget
- HLC line item 7004-0102 – Homeless Individual Shelters – dropped from $115.7 million to $110.7 million, a decrease of 4.32% from the HWM proposal.
- HLC 7004-9024 – Mass. Rental Voucher Program – dropped from $258.1 million to $253.3 million, a decrease of 1.86% from the HWM proposal.
The Providers’ Council is reviewing the budget for other major changes to human services accounts or line items, and we will provide more information to our members as we receive it.
Again, the preliminary Providers’ Council budget analysis is located here and it is also included as an image below. If you have questions about the FY ’26 budget or the budget process, please contact Caroline O’Neill.
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