Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a $33.6 billion state budget today, but not without vetoing more than $400 million in spending.
Governor Patrick vetoed $240 million in funding for regional transit authorities, and $177 million in local aid to cities and towns. The governor says the budget is out of balance because he and legislative leaders are at an impasse over a separate transportation finance bill.
Patrick said Friday the vetoed spending can be quickly restored once a compromise is reached on the separate bill to raise taxes on gasoline, tobacco, and computer services. Legislative leaders have said they won’t make changes the governor insists on to account for the eventual elimination of turnpike tolls.
