HOUSE . . . . . . No. 5190
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
___________
SO MUCH OF THE MESSAGE FROM
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
RETURNING THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021
(SEE HOUSE, NO. 5164)
AS RELATES TO ATTACHMENTS A THROUGH L,
FOR ITEMS RETURNED WITH DISAPPROVALS AND REDUCTIONS
OF CERTAIN ITEMS
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
SECTION 5 OF ARTICLE LXIII
AND SECTIONS RETURNED WITH RECOMMENDATION OF AMENDMENTS
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE LVI
OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
——————
December 14, 2020.
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 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5190
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
STATE HOUSE · BOSTON, MA 02133
(617) 725-4000
CHARLES D. BAKER KARYN POLITO
GOVERNOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
December 11, 2020
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives,
Pursuant to Section 5 of Article 63 of the Amendments to the Constitution, we are today
signing House Bill 5164, “An Act Making Appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2021 for the
Maintenance of the Departments, Boards, Commissions, Institutions and Certain Activities of the
Commonwealth, for Interest, Sinking Fund and Serial Bond Requirements and for Certain
Permanent Improvements,” and returning certain portions to you for reconsideration.
The Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) budget, the sixth of this Administration, achieves stability
in challenging and uncertain times and once again provides money for education, stronger and
safer communities, transportation, health care coverage, and sustains social service programs for
mental health, substance misuse, children, and seniors.
Backed by a higher Stabilization Fund draw and the assumption that approximately $225
million in spending authorization will go unused, the enacted budget added approximately $620
million in spending to the revised budget I filed in October.
In total, the budget as enacted relies on over $3 billion in one-time resources, comprised
of one-time federal funds, a Stabilization Fund draw of up to $1.7 billion, and a balance carried
forward from FY20. I agree that the use of one-time funds is appropriate for one-time needs and
for stabilizing spending through extraordinary times. Plainly the Legislature faced a difficult
balancing act.
 Together, we need to consider the size of the structural gap we create as the economic
challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continue into Fiscal Year 2022 and beyond. I
continue to think $1.35 billion is the maximum draw from the Stabilization Fund that would be
appropriate for us to budget at this time.
Fortunately, since the revenue forecast was last revised in October, actual tax collections
have been better than expected. The budget I sign today incorporates a tax reforecast of upwards
of $459 million, of which $392 million remains on budget after certain statutory transfers.
I point out that I am signing all approximately $80 million in earmarked funding, as these
resources support one-time local projects in legislative districts throughout Massachusetts, with
funding expected to go out by the end of the fiscal year.
I am vetoing $166.7 million in gross spending that I see as not necessary in this
environment, or a lower priority than other competing needs. In particular, I believe the small
business recovery, education, and police oversight and training spending I am filing today is
essential.
After vetoes, the $45.9 billion spending plan I sign today represents an approximately
4.5% growth rate over estimated spending in Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20), excluding certain trust
fund transfers, pensions, and interfund transfers.
FY21 Budget Highlights
This budget effectively buffers municipalities and public schools from the forecast drop
in state revenue:
• Chapter 70 funding for education of $5.3 billion, a $108 million increase over
FY20, with every district getting a least as much Chapter 70 aid as in FY20
• Level funding for Unrestricted General Government Aid, at $1.1 billion
• This stable core funding is supplemented by hundreds of millions of one-time
federal coronavirus relief money that the state has shared with cities, towns, and regional school
districts.
Combating the Opioid Epidemic
• $264 million across several state agencies for substance misuse treatment and
services, a $33 million increase over FY20 and a total increase of $145 million since FY15 (not
including MassHealth)
Food Security
• $30 million for Emergency Food Assistance during the pandemic
 • $13 million for the Healthy Incentives Programs to address food insecurity
exacerbated by COVID-19
Caring for our Seniors
• A full year of expanded income eligibility for the Medicare Savings Program,
delivering savings to approximately 40,000 low-income seniors for their prescription drug costs
• $599 million for the Executive Office of Elder Affairs
• $17.5 million in support of grants to Local Councils on Aging and an increase of
$9.7 million above the FY20 budget for the Home Care program
• $4.7 million increase for the Community Choices Program
Transportation
• $1.302 billion in total operating budget transfers for the MBTA, an increase of
$98 million over FY20
• $381 million in the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), an
increase of $35 million over FY20 to fund snow and ice operations
• $90.5 million for Regional Transit Authorities
• $800,000 increase for the Merit Rating Board
Black Advisory Commission and Latino Advisory Commission
• Over $30 million to support the recommendations of the Administration’s Black
Advisory Commission and Latino Advisory Commission, including:
o Expansion of college and career pathways for high school students
o Targeted workforce development programs to prepare more Blacks and Latinos
for successful employment
o Improvement and expansion of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
programs
Housing
• $183 million in emergency assistance funding to provide shelter to homeless
families
• $135 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher (MRVP) program
 • $80 million for Local Housing Authorities (LHAs)
• $56 million for homeless shelters serving individuals
• $50 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)
Health and Human Services
• $25.470 billion for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services
(EOHHS), excluding supplemental payments to hospitals, a $2.175 billion (9%) increase over
the FY20 budget
• Fully funds the Department of Developmental Services’ Turning 22 program at
$25 million
• $10 million for the Safe and Successful Youth initiative
Behavioral Health
• $912 million for the Department of Mental Health
• $91 million for Adult Community and Clinical Services
• $10 million for inpatient behavioral health beds
• $6.5 million for DMH’s jail and arrest diversion programs
Economic Development
• $82.4 million in additional funding for economic recovery and small business
efforts
• $10 million for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund for grants to support
training and certification programs to help bridge the skills gap
• $5 million for Small Business Technical Assistance grants to provide technical
assistance, education, and access to capital to small businesses
• $2.5 million for the Urban Agenda grant program
We appreciate the work of the Legislature in delivering the FY21 conference report,
including reasonable funding levels for accounts that have historically required supplemental
appropriations. There remain, however, some items within the conference committee report that
we believe require additional corrective actions to maintain fiscal restraint and remain flexible
for unanticipated future events.
 Accordingly, we are vetoing $166.7 million gross / $156 million net in line-item and
outside-section spending. Of the 113 outside sections presented in the conference report, we are
signing 96 and returning 17 for amendment.
Therefore:
• We are reducing appropriation amounts in items of section 2 of House 5164 that
are enumerated in Attachment A of this message, by the amount and for the reasons set forth in
that attachment;
• We are disapproving, or striking wording in, items of section 2 of House 5164
also set forth in Attachment A, for the reasons set forth in that attachment; and
• Pursuant to Article LVI, as amended by Article XC, Section 3 of the Amendments
to the Constitution of the Commonwealth, we are returning sections 23, 40, 43, 69, 79, 80, 88,
90, 93, 99, 101, 103, 104, 107, 108, 110, and 116 with recommendations for amendment. Our
reasons for doing so and the recommended amendments are set forth in separate letters that are
dated today and included with this message as Attachments B to L, inclusive.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles D. Baker Karyn E. Polito
Governor Lieutenant Governor
 Attachment A
FY21 Budget
Veto Items: Line Item Accounts
Item Number Action Reduce By Reduce To
Supreme Judicial Court Administration
0320-0003 Reduce 177,978 9,960,064
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Suffolk County Clerk
0320-0010 Reduce 180,960 1,794,445
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Commission on Judicial Conduct
0321-0001 Reduce 91,514 907,682
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Board of Bar Examiners
0321-0100 Reduce 158,427 1,695,303
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Correctional Legal Services
0321-2100 Reduce 181,801 2,026,531
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Item Number Action Reduce By Reduce To
Appeals Court
0322-0100 Reduce 129,075 13,752,596
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Superior Court Justice Salaries
0330-0101 Reduce 2,261,050 73,933,004
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Administrative Staff
0330-0300 Reduce 7,437,435 261,682,713
I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary.
Vet Court Admin
0330-0344 Reduce 35,851 184,264
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Recidivism Reduction Pilot Program
0330-0599 Reduce 5,162 1,468,998
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Superior Court Administration
0331-0100 Reduce 419,742 34,898,168
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Item Number Action Reduce By Reduce To
Land Court Department
0334-0001 Reduce 171,723 4,324,364
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Juvenile Court Department
0337-0002 Reduce 646,714 20,268,503
I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary.
Commissioner of Probation
0339-1001 Reduce 3,936,245 160,585,392
I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary.
Community Corrections Administration
0339-1003 Reduce 1,132,222 24,757,292
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Divert Juveniles from Criminal Justice
0339-1005 Reduce 150,000 350,000
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Jury Commissioner
0339-2100 Reduce 40,573 3,097,944
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Item Number Action Reduce By Reduce To
Suffolk District Attorney
0340-0100 Reduce 444,830 23,585,279
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Suffolk District Attorney State Police Overtime
0340-0198 Reduce 11,386 379,537
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Northern District Attorney
0340-0200 Reduce 427,608 19,930,382
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
DA Drug Diversion and Education
0340-0203 Reduce 4,950 495,000
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Northern DA State Police Overtime
0340-0298 Reduce 16,872 562,384
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Eastern District Attorney
0340-0300 Reduce 308,695 11,873,363
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Item Number Action Reduce By Reduce To
Eastern District Attorney State Police Overtime
0340-0398 Reduce 16,208 540,272
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Middle District Attorney
0340-0400 Reduce 304,016 12,991,570
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Middle District Attorney State Police Overtime
0340-0498 Reduce 13,507 450,247
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Hampden District Attorney
0340-0500 Reduce 528,275 13,042,051
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Hampden District Attorney State Police Overtime
0340-0598 Reduce 11,103 370,106
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Northwestern District Attorney
0340-0600 Reduce 267,005 8,210,419
I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary.
Item Number Action Reduce By Reduce To
Northwestern District Attorney State Police Overtime
0340-0698 Reduce 9,612 320,396
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Norfolk District Attorney
0340-0700 Reduce 200,025 11,939,039
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Norfolk District Attorney State Police Overtime
0340-0798 Reduce 13,958 465,281
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Plymouth District Attorney
0340-0800 Reduce 324,394 10,443,124
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Plymouth District Attorney State Police Overtime
0340-0898 Reduce 14,035 467,825
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Bristol District Attorney
0340-0900 Reduce 663,468 11,095,626
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Item Number Action Reduce By Reduce To
Bristol District Attorney State Police Overtime
0340-0998 Reduce 67,872 497,086
I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my revised House 2 recommendation.
Cape and Islands District Att