Breaking down the state budget

Gov. Maura Healey signed the 2024 fiscal year state budget this week. Let’s cash you up on where the $55.98 billion is going across the Bay State.

The budget may be a few days late, but it will make historic investments in schools, child care, public transit, housing, and climate resiliency to help make our state more competitive + equitable.

Here are a few budget items that stood out:

• $224 million for K-12 education to provide free lunch for all students.
• $229 million for free community college through the MassReconnect program.
• $477 million for transportation will help preserve critical infrastructure, improve accessibility at MBTA stations + initiate means-tested MBTA fares.
• $71 million for early education and care will create more childcare slots for eligible families.
• $324 million for the Emergency Assistance Family Shelter program.
• $8 million for targeted initiatives to  support  workforce, manufacturing, cybersecurity, and innovation economy from  the  Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.