The measure would, among other things, require all state agencies to periodically go before a “sunset” commission to justify their performance and continued existence.
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Senate has given unanimous approval to an overhaul of the way state determines how taxpayers money is spent.
The finance reform bill championed by Senate President Therese Murray would modernize that she has called “clumsy and outdated.” It was approved Thursday on a 38-0 vote and sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Among other things, the measure would require all state agencies to periodically go before a “sunset” commission to justify their performance and continued existence.
Before approving the bill, senators approved a Republican-backed amendment that would require a zero-based budgeting system by 2017. Such a system would require the state to build a budget essentially from scratch each year, rather than base appropriations on the previous year’s funding levels.