Governor Charlie Baker has released his $48.5 billion fiscal year ’23 budget proposal.

“This is the last state budget that Governor Baker will have his hands on – so he’s using this opportunity to push for tax breaks and fiscal responsibility,” WWLP reports.

“…he wants to invest in schools, MassHealth and transitional assistance, to name a few. Baker’s budget proposal would also give more than $700 million in tax breaks to low income seniors as well as low income families.”

The governor’s proposal also level funds most early education and care line items, sticking to the amounts allocated in the state’s FY’22 budget.

This includes:

• $12 million for child care resource and referral agencies [Access Management, 3000-2000]

• $15 million for Head Start [3000-5000]

• $10 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative [3000-6025], and

• $3 million for early childhood mental health [3000-6075]

The governor’s proposal does not fund:

• a rate increase for center-based early educator salaries [line item 3000-1042], and

• the Department of Early Education and Care’s Workforce Development line item [3000-7066]

The budget proposal does, however, include a net increase for child care access accounts [3000-3060, 3000-4060].

Please stay tuned. The next step in the state’s budget process is for the House and Senate to release their budget proposals. We’re expecting to see the House do so in April.

For more detailed information, check out our state budget page.