Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signs $30.6 billion state budget
July 19, 2011 at 2:54 PM
Dan Ring-The Republican
BOSTON – Gov. Deval L. Patrick on Monday signed a $30.6 billion budget for this fiscal year that includes a provision expected to negate a $65 million, or 7 percent, cut in unrestricted state aid to cities and towns.
During a press conference in his Statehouse office, Patrick said he made no vetoes to line items in the budget, or the first time since 1990 that a governor has approved a budget with no vetoes to spending items.
Patrick said state legislators sent him a budget that was similar to the spending plan he filed in January. Legislators approved the budget on July 1.
"I am very happy with the budget enacted by the Legislature," Patrick said....
The budget also includes an increase for some of the lowest paid homeless shelters in the state including the Friends of the Homeless Resource Center in Springfield. A minimum rate of $20 per bed per night was established, resulting in an estimated $270,000 increase for Friends of the Homeless.
To read Dan Ring's entire article on MassLive, follow this link: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/massachusetts_gov_deval_patric_58.html
Kathy Tobin
After almost thirty years covering the news for television affiliates in Western Massachusetts, Kathy joined Friends of the Homeless in the fall of 2009 to help raise money and the profile of the organization to fulfill its mission. As Director of Development, Kathy is available to help you understand the work we are doing and how you might contribute to end homelessness in our community.