MA House Ways & Means Proposed Budget 2020 (Part One)
Today the proposed 2020 House Ways and Means Budget was released. This is the second step in the Commonwealth’s budget process. The first step was the release of the Governor’s budget in January 2019.
Here is a link to the proposed House budget: https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2020/HouseWaysMeansBudget/Ways_Means_Final_Budget
The proposed House budget for the Mass Cultural Council, for the most part, seems to echo the funding in the Governor’s proposed budget. It should be noted, however, there is some new language* in the House Budget concerning the MCC’s appropriation. MALC posted the MCC’s press release on the House Budget.
Amendments to the proposed House budget will need to be filed by the end of this week. We will post key amendments to the budget and what you can do to help support them.
MALC follows several line items in the State budget. In this post we will highlight the MCC, MassArt and several others. Part Two will highlight funding for the libraries.
Key Budget Line Items:
0640-0300 Massachusetts Cultural Council $16,568,079 ($16,110,765 was proposed in the Governor’s 2020 budget)
7008-0900 Massachusetts Marketing Partnership. For the operation and administration of the office of travel and tourism; provided, that the office shall be the commonwealth’s official and lead agency to facilitate and attract: (a) major sports events and championships; and (b) motion picture production and development; and provided further, that the office shall provide an annual report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2019 …………………………………………………….$163,176 (Same as the Governor’s budget)
7008-1300 For the operation of the Massachusetts international trade
office ……………………. $122,273 (Same as the Governor’s budget)
7117-0100 For the Massachusetts College of Art……..$19,476,925 (Same as the Governor’s budget)
___________________
*Language from the House Budget for the MCC line item 0640-0300 (the italicized section is the new language): “For the services and operations of the Massachusetts cultural council, including grants to or contracts with public and non-public entities; provided, that the council may expend the amounts appropriated in this item for the council as provided in sections 52 to 58, inclusive, of chapter 10 of the General Laws; provided further, that 25 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item shall be transferred quarterly from the State Lottery and Gaming Fund, established in section 35 of chapter 10 of the General Laws, to the General Fund; provided further, that a person employed under this item shall be considered an employee within the meaning of section 1 of chapter 150E of the General Laws and shall be placed in the appropriate bargaining unit; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item for travel costs in the BB object class; provided further, that additional funds provided under this item in excess of the amount provided in fiscal year 2019 shall only be expended on direct grants to local cultural councils, non-profit cultural organizations, and public district and charter schools in the commonwealth to further the achievement of the following 4 goals of the council’s 5 year strategic plan: (a) amplifying cultural vitality in cities and towns through integrated community-focused grants and initiatives, (b) enhancing the commonwealth’s economic vitality by helping non-profit cultural organizations, artists, and other participants in the cultural tourism sector to thrive, (c) enhancing creative learning experiences in schools and communities that instill agency in, and support the growth of, creative, productive, independent-minded young people, and (d) promoting more diverse and inclusive participation in the cultural sector by ensuring equity in policies, practices, and opportunities; provided further, that the council shall establish guidelines ensuring that public funds provided to the council are spent in a manner consistent with other state agencies, including but not limited to, the use of vehicles, the cost of travel, and the purchase of meals by council staff and management; provided further, that in developing these guidelines, the council shall consult with the state ethics commission, the inspector general, the comptroller’s office, and the attorney general to ensure the guidelines are based on best practices and sound judgment; and provided further, the new guidelines shall be forwarded, not later than October 1, 2019, to the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on tourism, arts, & cultural development.”