Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation Executive Vice President Doug Howgate, who will soon take over as the group’s next leader, said the first three months of tax collections historically “bore little connection to revenue trends in subsequent months.” “The economic environment of the last two years…

“The surplus is a little bit larger than we initially anticipated, even a couple weeks ago,” said Doug Howgate, executive vice president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a business-backed budget watchdog that, as recently as last week, estimated the surplus could reach nearly $4.7 billion…

On July 28th, Governor Baker signed the FY 2023 budget. In doing so, the Governor essentially agreed with the legislative spending plan, vetoing just $475,000, however, he also proposed a number of changes to the policy provisions in the budget, returning 41 sections with amendment. This bulletin…

The House and Senate have enacted a $59.6 billion fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget, which includes all major spending proposals in either budget as well as several new large investments in areas like early education, K-12, and transportation. The conference budget includes close to $2.8 billion more…

Budget conferees are negotiating spending, revenue and policy differences between the House and Senate proposals in order to present a final budget to Governor Baker for the start of fiscal year 2023. For the second straight year, conferees must also significantly revise the budget’s tax revenue…

The Senate completed budget deliberations this week, finalizing a $49.9 billion budget after three days of deliberations. The Senate adopted 514 of the 1,178 amendments filed by individual Senators. The final Senate budget adds $93.3 million in spending and 104 new policy sections.

The Senate begins its budget process today, with the release of the Senate Ways and Means proposal. The SWM budget follows a similar script to the House, foregoing a tax relief proposal put forward by Governor Baker and including hundreds of millions in new investments. Like earlier proposals, the…

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a nonpartisan watchdog group, endorsed Baker’s plan, calling it the right move to keep the commonwealth competitive.

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation helpfully adds it all up: The bill includes 614 environmental, climate, and economic development earmarks, and guarantees every municipality in the state at least $250,000.

The House wrapped up its budget deliberations this week, finalizing a $49.8 billion budget, after adding $129.6 million in spending through amendment over the course of 3 days of session.  The House acted on a record number of budget amendments this year, disposing of 1,522 riders through 7…