This brief frames the final FY 2016 budget shortfall and takes a closer look at some of the factors that created the gap. It will also preview some of the solutions likely to be used to close the gap and outline possible implications for FY 2017.

On July 31st the Legislature completed its budget override process for FY 2017, finalizing the years General Appropriations Act. In total the Legislature overrode $231.6 million of the $267.1 million originally vetoed by the Governor.

The eventful final stages of the FY 2017 budget process are nearly complete. Last week, Governor Baker signed the Conference Committee budget after vetoing $267.1 million in spending and striking or proposing amendments to 60 budget sections. The legislature has until the end of July to take up…

The FY 2017 Conference Committee report released yesterday reconciles the House and Senate budgets while assuming $750 million less in tax revenue than previous spending plans. This analysis outlines the Conference Committee plan for balancing the budget in light of reduced tax revenues and…

With just days left in the fiscal year, tax revenues currently stand at $310 million below benchmark for FY 2016. This shortfall creates major challenges for ending the current fiscal year in balance and calls into question the accuracy of the tax revenue projection used to build the FY 2017…

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation is pleased to issue this report entitled: “The Commonwealth’s Capital Budget: A Primer” the purpose of which is to provide a guide on the process, how it differs from the operating budget and how capital revenues are spent. This primer is the first in a series…

Late last week the Senate completed its FY 2017 budget process. During three days of debate, the Senate added $61.4 million in new spending and 181 new policy sections to the budget proposal submitted by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means (SWM). The next stop in the process is the appointment…

The Senate Ways and Means budget fares well when compared with the three fiscal criteria set out by the Foundation to analyze the FY 2017 budget. Sharing the fiscal approach adopted by the House and the Governor, this spending plan proposes restrained spending growth and no new revenue initiatives…

The Foundation offers a preview of issues to watch in the Senate Ways and Means FY 2017 budget.