|
May 23, 2005 -The Senate officially started debate this week on the FY 2006 state budget. Senator Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) sponsored several amendments to the Senate budget proposal that were approved yesterday.
During the budget discussions, Moore secured state funding for amendments he strongly supported including money for biotechnology education and increased funding for the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Measures include establishing a schedule to fully fund the state’s Payment in Lieu of Taxes obligation, funding for extending the school day or year, as well as to give towns more flexibility when developing their budgets.
“The citizens and communities of the Worcester and Norfolk District will benefit greatly from these provisions adopted by the Senate,” said Moore. “I’m proud that once again the Senate is appropriating funds that will positively affect the towns in our district, and communities across the state.”
Moore noted that he was especially pleased that his amendment to fund the Mass BioTeach Program was adopted by the Senate. The amendment would provide $500,000 for the BioTeach Program. BioTeach aims to enable every public high school in Massachusetts to teach biotechnology by the year 2010 by enabling schools, empowering teachers, and inspiring students. Developed by MassBioEd, the educational foundation of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, BioTeach builds on the MBC's nine years of success with its Science Lab Awards program, adding biotechnology science and career components into the core biology curriculum.
The Senate budget proposal contains several other provisions supported by Senator Moore including:
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.
Increases appropriation from $8,420,362 to $8,700,000, an amount supported by sportsmen groups. The funding increase will allow the agency to have full program staffing and operational capability consistent with agency income. In addition, these programs result in a significant economic benefit to the Commonwealth and are solely funded by license fees and federal reimbursement dollars with no effect on the bottom line of the state budget.
- Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT). Establishes a statutory schedule to fully fund the state’s PILOT obligation by fiscal year 2010. Governor Romney proposed similar language in his budget; however, the Senate uses a higher figure of $16.5 million to calculate the amount of funding in FY 2007-FY 2010 without increasing overall spending.
- Extending learning time in schools.
Includes a $1 million earmark to be administered to eligible school districts to develop plans on how to extend school days/years to improve educational outcomes.
- Elimination of the Municipal Relief Sunset Clause.
Makes permanent the provisions in the 2003 Municipal Relief Act that allow the transfer of funds in municipal budgets from one department to another within two months of the end of the fiscal year. Towns have used this relief to satisfy budget requirements in the midst of serious budget crunches and shortfalls that have been experienced in the past three years.
- Statewide Stroke Education and Public Awareness. Restores $300,000 in funding that was cut by Governor Romney in his FY 2006 budget. This important program educates the public and providers including emergency medical services personnel about the warning signs of stroke, the recognition of stroke symptoms, and the importance of timely and appropriate acute care treatment. The recent publicity surrounding the stroke experienced by Patriot’s Linebacker Tedy Bruschi has certainly elevated awareness, and this should be focused on stroke awareness and prevention activities.
Among Senator Moore’s FY 2006 budget priorities that were included in the Senate Ways and Means Budget proposal released last week were:
- Pharmacy Outreach Program. This item provides $600,000 for the MassMedline Program, operated under contract with the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Worcester, which helps to enroll eligible seniors in Prescription Advantage and assists those who call the toll-free phone number with gaining access to free or low cost prescription drugs that are available from pharmaceutical company community benefit programs.
- Co-payment relief for prescription drugs.
This item will provide $5,000,000 in relief from co-payments related to Prescription Advantage, a drug purchasing program for low-income seniors.
- Sutton Fire/Rescue Equipment. Grants of $25,000 to Sutton Fire and Rescue Departments for safety equipment at the Purgatory Chasm State Reservation in Sutton. More than a decade ago, the state provided a grant to the town of Sutton for specialized equipment for the fire and rescue units to help with the several rescue calls each year to Purgatory Chasm. This equipment has now become worn out used and unsafe.
- Providence and Worcester Railfan Museum.
Provides a $10,000 travel and tourism grant to the Providence and Worcester Railfan Museum in the Town of Webster.
- Prostate Cancer Screening, Education and Treatment. $1,000,000 for a statewide prostate cancer screening, education and treatment programs.
- MCAS Remediation Reform. This item provides $5 million reduce the MCAS failure rates in grade 8-10. Preparing students in lower grades who may need extra support to pass the final MCAS in grade 10 is more cost-effective than post-test remediation.
- Public Hearing at DMA. Currently, DMA is not required to hold public hearings when they promulgate new rules and or regulations. This provision will level the playing field between the two agencies and to bring more accountability to DMA when they seek to changes rules and regulations which effect people.
- State Laboratory Institute (SLI). The Governor’s budget actually decreased funding for this critical public safety and public health facility. In its current financial state, the SLI is unable to purchase emergency supplies and it may be seriously compromised if the Commonwealth faces a public health crisis such as the avian flu pandemic. The Senate Ways and Means budget addresses this concern by increasing funding for this program by $400,000 to $10,037,658.
- Nursing Faculty Shortage in Public Higher Education. This item will help ease the nursing faculty shortage in the Commonwealth’s institutes of higher learning by establishing and funding a $500,000 trust fund for the professions of nursing and allied health.
The Senate will continue to debate the budget this week. Once passed by the Senate, a conference committee will resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions. The committee will then send a final version of the budget to the Governor to be signed into law.
For more information visit Senator Moore’s website at
www.senatormoore.com/budget
.
|
