We Couldn't Have Said It Better

Yvonne Abraham: Half Measures Won't Fix Broken Budget

"...we're looking at a $4 billion deficit next year. Over the next 20 years, we'll be $19 billion short of what we need just to maintain our transportation system, let alone improve it.

"So far, we've been offered half-measures that would force some of us to shoulder a burden that should be everyone's to share."

Read Yvonne Abraham's entire column

Governor signs bad news state budget

The Governor has signed the Massachusetts budget for FY 2010, making only relatively minor small changes to the budget approved by the legislature.

Given the economic downturn, the budget contained mostly bad news for 509 members and clients.   The one piece of good news was the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, a revenue package worth about a billion dollars that will help avoid even more significant cuts to services.

The budget will require state employees to pay more for their health insurance. Those now paying 15% of their premiums will now pay 20%; those already at 20% will go to 25%.   It includes no money for raises, either for the Alliance contract or the private sector’s salary reserve, it weakens the Pacheco Law by increasing the threshold for contracting out services from $200,000 to $500,000, and it provides less money to every line item we care about, meaning reductions in services and workers.   DDS respite and employment programs may be particularly affected.

Pension reform has so far not impacted us, as it rightfully targets true examples of abuse of the system, but further reforms could affect state workers, whose pensions are modest, and who are denied social security benefits. 

As bad as this may be, the activism and leadership of SEIU Local 509 members helped defeat many of the worse proposals floated in the legislature and made possible the revenue package, without which things would have been considerably worse.  Thank you for  your calls!