During an event celebrating the state’s investments in cultural attractions in Pittsfield Monday,Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said he and his staff are still reviewing the $36.5 million budget state lawmakers approved last week. The spending plan includes increases to the embattled Department of Children and Families as well as state education and opioid abuse prevention allocations.
“We’re reviewing it,” Patrick said. “It’s a good budget. In many respects it follows certainly many of the priorities set out in my own budget proposal back in January. I like a lot of the education investments in particular from pre-K up through higher ed[ucation.] I think those are enormously important and have a huge long-term impact. I think the investments around the Department of Children and Families and also around the opioid addiction epidemic are very helpful and important. You know there are a lot of details in this budget. The constitution gives me 10 days to go through it and our team is going through it with care. But on the whole I think it’s a very positive step forward.”
The governor must take action on the budget later this week. An expected $73 million from casino licensing fees is included in the budget however, may need to be readdressed in the fall if the ballot question seeking the repeal of the state authorizing the casinos passes.
