Making certain appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025 before final action on the General Appropriation Bill
Impact
One of the critical components of H4786 is that it allows advance local aid payments to any municipalities or educational institutions facing an emergency cash shortfall. This provision is designed to sustain essential services at the local level until more comprehensive funding measures are finalized in the general appropriation act. It reflects an acknowledgment of the financial strain that some localities may face, particularly when unexpected fiscal challenges arise.
Summary
House Bill H4786 is an appropriations bill intended to authorize expenditures for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The bill allocates a total of $6,925,000,000 to cover necessary operations of various governmental departments, commissions, and institutions, as well as fulfilling federal grant obligations. This appropriation will remain in effect until the passage of the general appropriation bill, at which point all actions under this bill will apply against that enactment. The urgency of this bill arises from the need to ensure continuous government functioning during the transition to the new fiscal year.
Contention
While the bill appears necessary for maintaining governmental operations and local support, there may be points of contention regarding the amount appropriated and the criteria for determining an 'emergency cash shortfall.' Stakeholders including municipal leaders and education administrators might have varying perspectives on what constitutes an emergency and how to appropriately allocate the funds. Furthermore, as H4786 mandates reauthorization of unexpended capital account balances, it leads to conversations about fiscal responsibility and potential implications for future budgetary cycles.
Similar To
So much of the message from Her Excellency the Governor returning the General Appropriation Bill for fiscal year 2025 (see House, No. 4800) as relates to Attachments B and C, for items returned with disapproval of wording under the provisions of Section 5 of Article LXIII and sections returned with recommendations of amendments under the provisions of Article LVI of the Amendments to the Constitution (House, No. 4935). July 29, 2024
Making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects
Making appropriations for the fiscal year 2024 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects
Making appropriations for the fiscal year 2023 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects
Making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects
Making appropriations for the fiscal year 2024 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects
To provide appropriations from the General Fund for the expenses of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Departments of the Commonwealth, the public debt and the public schools for the fiscal year July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023; to provide appropriations from special funds and accounts to the Executive and Judicial Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023; to provide for the appropriation of Federal funds to the Executive and Judicial Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023; and to provide for the additional appropriation of Federal and State funds to the Executive and Legislative Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.