Week Ending December 30, 2010
The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a $330.1 million spending bill earlier today. The spending bill is in response to unexpected growth in the state’s Medicaid program (MassHealth). In addition to the $194 million allocated for MassHealth, $50 million will be allocated for children’s behavioral health services and $8.5 million for operations at the State Legislature. In terms of the breakdown, $172.8 million will come from the state of Massachusetts while the remaining $157.3 will be paid with federal reimbursements. State tax collections are presently $500 million above projections for the fiscal year, although the sales tax holiday in August resulted in $20 million less in tax revenues. Only a small number of members were on hand to vote for the spending bill and no debate was conducted. The Senate is expected to take up the spending bill later this afternoon.
The blizzard that blanketed Massachusetts with two feet of snow on Sunday and Monday will cost the state $14 million to clean up. According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the total cost for the cleanup through Tuesday of this week was $14.4 million. The bulk of the cost is attributed to keeping almost 4,000 pieces of equipment on the roads during the peak overnight hours. MassDOT said that $2.8 million went to pay for materials such as salt and sand while $650,000 paid for overtime costs to employees. 8,000 residents lost power through mid-morning on Tuesday while another 3,000 did not have power restored until after Tuesday evening. Boston reportedly received 18.2 inches of snow, the 10th largest snowfall since 1892. MassDOT allocated $59.3 million for snow and ice removal in its fiscal 2011 budget.
John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
Executive Director, AIA MA
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)
MA Chapter of American Institute of Architects
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
www.architects.org
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