Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

Artists leaders and artist-run groups addressing policy issues that affect artists in Massachusetts

Update on the State Budget Process: Conference Committee

The next step of the state budget process, the Conference Committee, is now underway.

From the State House News Service:  “The House and Senate named six members to come up with a consensus state budget. The budget, which is due by July 1, will be hashed out by a conference committee chaired by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Brian Dempsey of Haverhill and Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Karen Spilka of Ashland. They will be joined by Ways and Means vice chairs Rep. Stephen Kulik of Worthington and Sen. Sal DiDomenico of Everett. Sen. Vinny deMacedo of Plymouth and Rep. Todd Smola of Warren will serve as Republican conference members.”

The Conference Committee first met this Monday, June 5th and are now in negotiations.

It is important to note that where the House and Senate budgets differ (in funding levels and in language), the Conference Committee will need to negotiate the final funding levels and language.

One key negotiation point will be the Mass Cultural Council’s funding level as the House and Senate approved very different funding levels. (The Senate funded it at $16,500,000 and this is an increase from its current funding level this year of $14 million. The final FY 18 House budget funded the MCC at – $12,075,699 (a cut from its current funding of $14 million))

More on this next step of the budget process:  https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2018/ConferenceCommittee

To see how the House and Senate Budgets compared on key line items MALC was following- not including the amendments listed below:  http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/senate-ways-means-budget-released-today/

MALC will do its best to keep you informed.

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The final results of all the Senate amendments MALC was following is listed below and will all need to be negotiated by the Conference Committee:

Film Tax Credit Program Senate Budget Amendment:

Amendment #38  – Was unfortunately adopted. This amendment if it makes into the final budget approved by the conference committee would effectively end our state’s film tax credit program. (It was adopted on Tuesday afternoon, May 23). This language was not in the House final budget and will need to be negotiated by the Conference Committee (MALC is strongly against this amendment)

More info see our post from about this amendment:  http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/calls-to-action/film-tax-credit-never-risk-right-now/

Percent for Art Senate Budget Amendment

Amendment #694 Massachusetts Public Art Program was approved the evening of Thursday, May 25th. https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2018/SenateDebate/Amendments/lesser This was not in the final House Budget and MALC is in strong support of this amendment.

Library Senate Budget Amendments

#227 Restores funding for the Center for the Book – This amendment was rejected on Tuesday, May 23. The House budget restored this line item and it remains to be seen if the Conference Committee keeps the funding for this line item.

#230 “Redrafted”  for line item 70001-9401 -for state aid to regional public libraries. This amendment was rejected on Tuesday, May 23. Again the Conference Committee will need to decide on what level of funding for this line item.