MassBudget Brief: What Are 9C Cuts?
On October 29, 2009, Governor Patrick exercised his authority under state law to make spending cuts to the state’s FY 2010 budget. This MassBudget Brief explains the nature of the Governor’s 9C authority and when use of this authority becomes necessary.
Youth and Work: in Massachusetts and Across the Nation
Here in Massachusetts, close to 1 in 7 young people is unemployed. Nationwide, 6.5 million “disconnected youth” are out of school and also out of work.
Breakfast and Lunch Participation in Massachusetts Schools
Are free and reduced-price school meals getting to all the kids who need them? That’s the question that motivated Breakfast and Lunch Participation in Massachusetts Schools—part of a joint project involving MassBudget, the Center for Social Policy at UMass Boston, and the Mass Law Reform Institute, supported by the EOS foundation.
Funding for Dept. of Children and Families and Children at the Dept. of Mental Health, FY 2009 – FY 2013
Funding for children through the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Mental Health has been cut significantly since the beginning of the Great Recession in Fiscal Year 2009.
Massachusetts Ranks 25th in Taxes in FY 2010
State and local taxes in Massachusetts are roughly in line with the national average, according to data released today by the census bureau. Massachusetts ranks 25th among all states—meaning there are 24 states with a higher level of taxation and 25 with lower rates.
Median Household Income Dropped in Massachusetts and the U.S. in 2011
Median household income in Massachusetts fell to $62,859 in 2011, a decline of 1.7 percent from 2010. This is the second year in a row that the median income has dropped in Massachusetts.
2011 Poverty Rate Remained Level in Massachusetts While Rising Nationwide
The overall poverty rate in Massachusetts was 11.6 percent in 2011—roughly the same as in 2010. By contrast, the overall U.S. poverty rate did show a significant increase, from 15.3 percent in 2010 to 15.9 percent in 2011.
Child Poverty in Massachusetts Unchanged, Most Children Have Health Insurance
Children in Massachusetts fare better than in much of the rest of the nation, as child poverty in the Commonwealth remains unchanged and health insurance coverage is widespread.
Massachusetts Leads the Nation in Health Insurance Coverage
Massachusetts continues to lead the nation when it comes to health insurance coverage. In 2011, the proportion of people in the state who lacked health insurance coverage was 4.3 percent, compared to the U.S. average of 15.1 percent.