While it’s not contested that incoming Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker will face a budget shortfall when he takes over the corner office next month, some say Gov. Deval Patrick’s $330 million state budget shortfall estimate falls, well, short.
Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, says the budget hole is closer to $1 billion.
“We’ve gone through the numbers carefully. There’s some shortfall in [non-tax] revenues and there’s going to be an income tax cut beginning January 1, but mostly there are spending deficiencies,” Widmer told WGBH News.
Widmer's estimate also takes into consideration the $250 million in savings and spending cuts Patrick has made in recent weeks.
Last year’s failure of the commonwealth’s Health Connector website that forced the state to place approximately 300,000 individuals on temporary Medicaid is one of the main culprits contributing to the massive state budget hole, according to Widmer.
The shortfall could leave incoming governor Charlie Baker with no choice but to make unpopular emergency cuts when he takes office in January.
Widmer says human services — including mental health services and children’s servicers — are likely to bear the brunt of emergency cuts.
“Human services is always, unfortunately, a victim ... when it comes to spending cuts in emergencies because it’s more flexible and not tied to legal requirements, generally speaking," said Widmer. "Now, the incoming governor, like the outgoing governor, understands the importance of these services. But you have to cut somewhere. ”
You can find and listen to the full interview with Michael J. Widmer above.
