Mass. leaders in no hurry to spend $1 billion surplus

BOSTON (AP) — It seems a reasonable assumption that Massachusetts politicians would eagerly find ways to spend more than $1 billion that — in a manner of speaking — is just lying around on Beacon Hill. Not so, apparently. Nearly three months after the state’s previous fiscal year ended with a sizeable revenue surplus, the Democrat-controlled Legislature has yet to act on a plan for how to use that unanticipated cash and officially close the books on fiscal year 2018.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker filed a so-called supplemental budget with lawmakers in July that includes spending about $150 million of the surplus to enhance school safety and other education initiatives.

The Legislature ended formal sessions for the year Aug. 1 without acting on the measure. While lawmakers continue to meet informally, only routine or uncontested bills typically advance during informal sessions.

The budget is stalled even as many candidates on the November ballot push for greater investment in things like transportation, education and opioid treatment.

A closer look:

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Massachusetts revenue officials say the state collected about $28 billion in taxes during the fiscal year that ended June 30. The total exceeded by more than $1.1 billion the projections on which the state had based its budget for the year, thereby creating a surplus.

Experts cautioned that the windfall, coming after several years of disappointing revenue performance, likely resulted from onetime taxpayer behavior and can’t be counted upon to repeat in future years.

BAKER’S PLAN

Legislation filed by the governor July 13 called for spending roughly half the surplus and depositing the rest into the state’s rainy day fund.

The administration proposed using $72 million to help make public schools safer in the aftermath of school shootings nationally, including the Feb. 14 attack that killed 17 people in Parkland, Florida. The plan includes $20 million to upgrade security and emergency communications in school buildings and $40 million for school districts to hire additional social workers and mental health counselors.

Also in Baker’s proposal: $30 million in “intervention and turnaround efforts” in districts with chronic student achievement gaps; $50 million for road and bridge repairs; $94 million to fund collective bargaining agreements with state workers; $48 million for unfunded retiree health costs; and $5 million in housing assistance for people who came to the state from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

Baker’s plan was introduced at a time when lawmakers were still grappling with an overdue budget for the new fiscal year that started July 1. They also were scrambling to complete work on other major bills before formal sessions ended.