By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff The Massachusetts Senate released a $32.275 billion budget proposaltoday that increases spending on local government and education,withdraws $290 million from the state s rainy day fund, and doesnot raise taxes or fees. The spending plan is similar in those respects to one approved bythe House on April 26. Though senators continued to talk about thestrain on state finances as a result of the economic downturn, theywere still able to increase overall spending by 3.7 percent. Senate President Therese Murray said the spending plan closes whathad been projected as a $1.4 billion gap in the budget year thatbegins July 1. The Senate plans to debate its plan next week beforereconciling any differences with the House and sending a final billto Governor Deval Patrick. Senators said most of the reduction in services would come fromprograms not immediately specified that will not getinflationary increases needed to retain current service levels. Forexample, the budget cuts the number of hours provided for an adulthome care program from 6 per day to 5 per day. The budget keeps the Taunton State Hospital, which would closeunder budgets proposed by Patrick and approved by the House, open.But the hospital would have a reduced capacity for patients 45beds instead of its current 169. Some of these efficiencies aren t pleasant, said SenatorStephen M. Brewer of Barre, the Democratic chairman of theSenate s budget committee. But Brewer contrasted Massachusetts relatively stable statefinances with the tumultuous budget in California and other states.He held up a news article about California s struggles during acommittee meeting to unveil the budget. Shortfall in California swells to $16 billion, he said,referring to the news account. Not in Massachusetts. Republicans, who hold just four of 40 seats in the Senate, praisedBrewer s budget this morning, for retaining the safety net withoutraising taxes. Make no mistake about it. Massachusetts has been positioned insuch a way that it is in a stronger frame than other states, saidMichael Knapik, a Westfield Republican who sits on the budgetcommittee. But Knapik said the state needs to seek more long-term budgetsolutions while the fiscal situation remains uncertain. This is the fifth year of the situation and we go month-to-month:Are the jobs going to improve? Are the revenues going to improve? Knapik said. Geoffrey Beckwith, who heads the Massachusetts MunicipalAssociation, called it a very strong, favorable budget for citiesand towns. I am an expert from gpsgprsgsmtracker.com, while we provides the quality product, such as GPS GSM Personal Tracker , SMS GPS Tracker Manufacturer, Vehicle GPS Tracking Devices,and more.
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