In late May, the Massachusetts Senate completed its budget debate, resulting in some budgetary wins for the local food system. The Senate budget includes $1,000,000 for food literacy, $250,000 for the local food policy council grant program, and $100,000 for the Cliff Effect Pilot Program.
The Senate budget funds the MDAR administrative budget at a similar level to the House for MDAR, but lowers the proposed amount for the Food Security Infrastructure Grant program to $10 million, from the Governor and House’s proposal of $25 million.
The Senate also increased the amount proposed for the Healthy Incentives Program to $20 million, from the House’s $15 million and below the Governor’s full funding of $25 million. The Collaborative thanks the Senate for their leadership, and is also concerned that this amount will not be enough to ensure the program can continue to operate year-round without interruption, and serve more SNAP households that want to use this benefit.
Both chambers have appointed members to a conference committee to reconcile the House and Senate budgets for approval and submission to the Governor. The state’s fiscal year ends on June 30, after which a new budget will hopefully be in place.
See our updated budget table below, and our letter to the conference committee here.
