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Gov. Healey Proposes $58.1 Billion Budget

Companion supplemental budget directs $863 Million to emergency shelter costs
Municipal relief package proposes to allow series of local option tax increases

 

In January, Gov. Maura Healey filed a $58.1 billion budget plan for fiscal year 2025, projecting a slight increase in tax revenue growth and taking an overall belt-tightening approach to budgeting for the next fiscal year. The proposal level funds spending in many areas and utilizes a series of fund transfers and redirection to balance the budget without dipping into the Stabilization Fund, the “Rainy Day” reserve fund that closed out FY24 with a balance of $8.3 billion.

The budget proposes spending approximately $1.3 billion in surtax revenue, generated from the recent voter-approved “Millionaire’s Tax,” to be spent on transportation and education initiatives. Reiterating her support to allow for an online lottery, Gov. Healey includes authorization language for the MA Lottery Commission to move its games and products online, and to allow for the purchase of Lottery products by using a debit card. RAM continues to oppose this effort on behalf of our Lottery sellers.

In a companion supplemental budget for FY24 filed at the same time, the Governor proposed $863 million in funds be spent to continue to address the migrant crisis, directing all the money toward ongoing emergency shelter costs. Total costs for this program are expected to reach $1 billion in both FY24 and FY25. The MA House of Representatives responded to this request in March with a smaller proposed infusion of funds and additional reforms to the shelter system. This issue continues to garner significant attention on Beacon Hill.

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RAMHIC Offerings for 2024  

RAMHIC continues to partner with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts to offer members access to the carrier's entire portfolio of high quality, small group health insurance plans.  

All members purchasing their health insurance coverage through the cooperative will also receive an expanded list of ancillary benefits, FREE of charge. 

Click image above to view a BCBS produced informational video on the power of the RAM/BCBS Cooperative. 

Please see our brochure for more detail on the expanded benefit package.  Specific information regarding each benefit may be found below: 

For more information please visit the RAMHIC page of our website. 


 

  

 

A Letter from the President

Downtown Boston Has a Public Safety Problem

When it comes to public safety in Boston’s downtown retail shopping districts, the city is at an inflection point. Many of our once thriving retail areas are already suffering, as evidenced by the growing number of darkened stores fronts. If we don’t act soon, the public safety concerns attributing to these closures will continue to spiral. More businesses will flee, fewer consumers and their families will visit the city, and the tax revenues we need to address these issues will plummet.

This isn’t a new problem. Last summer media coverage detailed nearly weekly stories of new public safety issues arising in these areas. Spillover from the challenges at Mass and Cass resulting in major stores having to deal with extensive drug use and overdoses in public restrooms. Groups of teens harassing, and even assaulting, workers and passersby. These issues are not simply a matter of perception. According to Boston Police Department data at that time, violent and attempted robberies in Boston shot up nearly 10 percent over the previous year – while the number of thefts jumped by 14 percent. The end result is an unsustainable environment in which to do business and for consumers to shop.

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CDC Updates Respiratory Virus Guidance – COVID-19 Isolation Period Shortened

On March 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated Respiratory Virus Guidance. The guidance provides practical recommendations and information to help people lower their risk from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, flu and RSV. Most notably, the guidance updates the isolation period for individuals who are sick. Previous guidance had suggested a five-day isolation period. The updated guidance recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both their symptoms are getting better overall, and they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). To learn more about the Respiratory Virus Guidance, updates to the isolation period, and FAQs please visit the CDC’s website.

 

Joint Committees Act on Thousands of Bills at Reporting Deadline

February 7th was Joint Rule 10 Day in the MA Legislature, the date by which the Legislature’s joint committees were to report on the thousands of bills still pending before them. Many bills will be sent to Study, typically signaling the end of their consideration by the Legislature this session. Others may receive extensions, giving the committees further time to review and make decisions on bills. Others will be passed favorably out of committee, often after some redrafting. RAM staff is now in the process of reviewing all those bills and redrafts, that received a favorable report, including, but certainly not limited to:

  • H.4263, An Act to save recycling costs in the Commonwealth – establishes Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging and paint
  • S.570, An Act to reduce plastics – omnibus single use plastics ban, including bags, food service wares, bottled water and more
  • S.2562, An Act relative to bereavement leave – requiring employers to provide ten days of bereavement leave to all employees
  • And more…

Even after receiving an initial favorable report from its originating committee, any bill still has a long way to go in the process before reaching the Governor’s desk. The Formal Session of the current MA Legislature ends at midnight on July 31st.

 

 

U.S. Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirement

RAM members are reminded of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s new beneficial ownership information reporting requirement.  Under the 2021 Corporate Transparency Act, companies doing business in the United States must now report certain information about the individuals who ultimately own or control them. 
 
Filing is simple, secure, and free of charge.  Companies that are required to comply (“reporting companies”) must file their initial reports by the following deadlines:
  • Existing companies: Reporting companies created or registered to do business in the United States before January 1, 2024 must file by January 1, 2025.
  • Newly created or registered companies: Reporting companies created or registered to do business in the United States in 2024 have 90 calendar days to file after receiving actual or public notice that their company’s creation or registration is effective.
Beneficial ownership information reporting is not an annual requirement. A report only needs to be submitted once, unless the filer needs to update or correct information. 

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