Massachusetts state senators are set to begin debate on their proposed $30.5 billion state budget.
Massachusetts House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, R-North Reading, leaves the House Chambers during a recess at the Statehouse in Boston Monday, April 25, 2011. The Massachusetts House has opened debate on a $30.4 billion state budget that further trims spending and dips deeper into the state's reserve fund.(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts state senators are set to begin debate on their proposed $30.5 billion state budget.
Democratic leaders say their spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 protects the state's most vulnerable residents while spending slightly less than budgets proposed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Gov. Deval Patrick.
Debate is scheduled to begin Wednesday.
The Senate plan includes no new taxes and dips into the state's one-time savings accounts for $440 million. It closes an estimated $1.9 billion spending gap without additional federal stimulus dollars.
Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Stephen Brewer has acknowledged the spending cuts are painful, but says his plan protects key services such as adult day care, veteran's services, domestic violence programs and early intervention programs for children who face developmental difficulties.