Photo: Alyssa Haywoode for Strategies for Children

 
The Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee has released its FY ’22 budget.

It’s a $47.6 billion budget proposal, that’s slightly higher, the Gloucester Daily Times reports, than the $45.6 billion budget that Governor Charlie Baker released in January.

“The House budget proposal calls for a 2.6% spending increase from fiscal 2021 and expects the state to collect $30.1 billion in tax revenue (the revenue drops to $24.3 billion after factoring in payments to the pension fund, MBTA and state reserves),” according to MassLive.com.

For early education and care, the House’s proposed budget specifics include:

• $358.9 million to fund child care for children served by the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Transitional Assistance

• $298.7 million in child care funds to support income-eligible families

• $20 million for a salary reserve to increase rates for center-based early education

• $15 million for Head Start

• $12 million for child care resource and referral agencies

• $5 million for pre-school expansion efforts

• $5 million for professional development opportunities, and

• $2.5 million for the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Grant

Total funding for the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) in the House Ways and Means proposal

is $27 million higher than the Governor’s proposal, but $48 million lower than the FY21 budget amount.

In addition, line item language in the Supportive (3000-3060) and Income Eligible (3000-4060) accounts stipulates that EEC will cover parent fees associated with subsidies through December 31, 2021.

For a complete listing of line items, visit Strategies for Children’s state budget webpage.

Stay tuned for updates on advocacy opportunities. And for more information contact Marisa Fear at mfear@strategiesforchildren.org.