November 18, 2021
BUDGET & TAXES > Budget > FY 2022

Baker laments ‘massive delay’ in spending ARPA funds

Says Mass. was already behind rest of country

Shira Schoenberg ,

Commonwealth Magazine

While the bodies agreed on some of the biggest provisions – spending $500 million on premium pay for essential workers and $500 million to reimburse the unemployment insurance trust fund – there were significant differences. According to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, the House had $790.8 million in unique spending, line items or amounts not shared with the Senate, and the Senate had $837.6 million in unique spending. The Senate would spend more on mental health, while the House would spend more on education.