By Christine Rasmussen
Every January, at the State House, the review and debate begin of the annual state budget. Just as in Stockbridge, see Notes from the Select Board below, Governor Healey transmits her draft budget for the next fiscal year to the House and Senate to debate and thereby create their own budget. It is then forwarded to the Governor to further negotiate. These negotiating sessions are very long, sometimes going into the wee hours of the morning as the budget season draws to a close.
Because the fiscal year begins on July 1, the fiscal’27 budget is being considered. There is a statutory deadline of July 1 for passage; however, you may recall that the deadline is often missed.
This year, the budget is more challenging than most years because federal funds from the Trump administration to Massachusetts are projected to drop from $16.1 billion in FY 26 to approximately $15.8 billion in FY 27. Based on data released by the Massachusetts Healey-Driscoll administration on federal funding cuts in 2027, it is projected that the federal reductions will have the heaviest impact on health and human services. It is projected that the cuts will impact one in three Massachusetts residents. Key programs that may be at risk include:
- MassHealth and Health Connector: Up to 300,000 residents are at risk of losing health care coverage.
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program): Over 100,000 residents are expected to lose food assistance benefits.
- Community Health Centers: Reduced funding threatens local, accessible healthcare.
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Critical addiction recovery programs are at risk.
- School Mental Health Services & Tutoring: Funding for student support services is reduced.
- Homeland Security & Disaster Prevention Aid: Critical infrastructure and emergency preparedness funding.
- School Security and Building Upgrades: Safety improvements.
- Healthy Food for Babies and Students: Nutritional assistance programs.
- Public Health Workers: Staffing and resources.
- Increased Broadband Access: Infrastructure expansion.
Facing these cuts, the Fair Share (millionaire’s tax) funding will provide critical financial support for essential services. For instance, the Governor has proposed to spend $1 billion from this tax for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for the public transit system serving the metro Boston area; $300 million would go to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation with another $245 million to Massachusetts’ Regional Transit.
It is important to note that all of this is the beginning of the budget process, with numerous twists and turns on the road ahead before final budget passage.
If you have questions about a specific budget issue, Governor Maura Healey has created a form for you to correspond with her office on budget details https://www.mass.gov/forms/massachusetts-federal-funding-issue-reporting-form.
SEASONAL COMMUNITY REGULATION FINALIZED
In February 2026, Massachusetts “Seasonal Communities” final regulations, authorized in the Affordable Homes Act, allowed designated, high-seasonal-usage towns, including Stockbridge, to implement the program. At Town Meeting, the designated towns can accept or reject this program.
The goal of the program is to reduce housing costs by removing many barriers, expediting the permitting process, and releasing surplus state land for housing. Converting underutilized commercial spaces into residential spaces, legalizing accessory dwelling units statewide, and providing financing tools to help homeowners build them, and other benefits that will be explored at meetings before a vote takes place.
Those who oppose the plan think too much autonomy is taken from municipalities and granted to the state.
One example is the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). ADUs were subject to local bylaws. In one year since Governor Maura Healey’s Affordable Homes Act allowed ADUs to be built By Right, across Massachusetts, 1,224 ADUs have been built in in 217 communities — an early snapshot of progress as communities implement the new statewide standard and homeowners begin moving projects forward. Governor Healey recently announced several new initiatives to build on this progress and accelerate the production of ADUs to help lower costs statewide.
