Baker signs supplemental $1.6B budget
Leaning into the state’s extensive surplus revenues that “continue to far exceed initial expectations,” as Gov. Charlie Baker wrote in a letter to the Legislature, Baker approved a $1.6 billion supplemental budget that includes provisions that build upon pandemic-era restaurant industry changes.
“Today, I will be signing legislation that will extend rules that make it easier for cities and towns to allow restaurants to offer outdoor dining,” Baker tweeted Friday night. “We appreciate the Legislature sending us this provision last night.”
One provision will allow municipalities to pursue an expedited permitting process for outdoor dining, and will extend outdoor dining until April 1, 2023. Another will allow restaurants to sell beer, wine and cocktails togo until April 1, 2023. That authorizations were previously set to expire on May 1 of this year.
Although outdoor dining remains a popular perk for diners and restaurateurs alike, restaurant owners in the North End of Boston have been locked in a bitter feud with Mayor Michelle Wu over a $7,500 fee she imposed on those businesses to allow outdoor dining. She’s cited complaints by residents over the overcrowding of the narrow streets in the neighborhood as her reason for the fee.
Wu has softened her stance in recent days, allowing restaurants to apply for a hardship exemption to the full fee, and to pay their fees in installments. Other new rules citywide also have caused some consternation, and Wu has said Boston needs to see what the final state rules end up as.
Another notable COVID provision allows the National Guard members who were activated during the pandemic after the end of the state of emergency to qualify for veterans’ bonuses. National Guard members filled in as school bus drivers and correctional officers last year to alleviate staffing shortages, and also helped out with hospital duties including turning over hospital rooms and delivering patients’ meals. National Guard members also helped administer COVID-19 tests to school staff and students.
The budget also includes $700 million for the state’s COVID-19 response, including funds for rapid tests and surveillance testing in congregate care facilities, monoclonal antibody treatments, vaccination sites and staffing in health care facilities.
Over $400 million will go toward rate enhancements for human-service providers, $140 million will go to special-education school staffing needs, $100 million a piece will go to rental assistance and winter road damage repairs, and $10 million will go toward resettlement of refugees and immigrants, including Ukrainian refugees.