Gov releases state budget proposal

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - Governor Deval Patrick unveiled his $32.3 billion state budget proposal Wednesday that includes over a billion dollars in cost reductions from the current budget.  How does it achieve that?  In part, by revamping the way we deliver and pay for health care, by merging the parole and probation departments and making cuts.

“Look, maybe this is an opportunity to make a bigger point, we have to start doing things differently,” said Patrick.

“The economy is growing, but despite this reality, we continue to have difficult budget choices and our budget reflects those realities,” said Lt. Gov. Tim Murray.

The budget proposes to lay off 300 state employees, reduce services at the RMV, eliminate subsidized lunches for seniors and reduce funding at the Department of Public Health.

Administration and Finance Secretary Jay Gonzalez said the state is aiming to replace desk services with the internet. “We’re going to focus even more on how we use technology to help continue to deliver important services, improve those services and do so at lower cost,” said Gonzalez.

The governor is also proposing over $5.2 billion in local aid for cities and towns and an increase to K-12 education aid funding, raising it to a record high of over $4 billion.

“We have invested in the areas that we know grow opportunity and strengthen us in the future.  That is why we have invested significantly in education, in innovation and in infrastructure and why we propose to do so again in the coming fiscal year,” said Patrick.

The governor’s budget includes limited additional revenues – In part, by eliminating a tax subsidy on soda and sweets and introducing a 50-cent tax hike on cigarettes.