Massachusetts legislators on Monday approved an interim 10-day $1.25 billion budget while they finish their spending plan for fiscal 2012.
The interim plan will run from Friday, the start of the fiscal year, through July 10. Gov. Deval Patrick filed the interim budget on Friday when the need for one became evident.
“Basically, it’s to continue operations, including safety-net services,” Patrick’s deputy press secretary, Heather Johnson, said late Monday afternoon.
Administration and Finance Secretary Jay Gonzalez said the plan will provide funding for state obligations for debt service, which must be paid early in the next fiscal year.
It will also cover health care payments for children, families, unemployed adults, and disabled people, and cash assistance for low-income families and elderly persons.
In addition, Gonzalez said it will fund emergency services and state police operations.
“We remain hopeful that the Legislature will be able to resolve their differences and submit the FY12 budget to Gov. Patrick for review within the next few days,” Gonzalez said in a statement.
The House and Senate passed separate versions of the budget, which totals about $30.5 billion. Policy matters, as opposed to issues related to bread-and-butter spending, are said to be the sticking points.
One bill with different versions, for example, would minimize some collective bargaining powers of municipal employees and enable cities and towns to shift rising health care costs to employees.
A six-member conference committee is still working on a compromise budget, which goes back to both chambers for a final vote. The House and Senate can reject the compromise budget, but not amend it.
The conference committee consists of two Democrats and one Republican from each branch.
House members on the committee are Ways and Means chairman Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, Ways and Means vice chairman Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, and Rep. Viriato DeMacedo, R-Plymouth. Senate members are Ways and Means chairman Stephen Brewer, D-Barre, Ways and Means vice chairman Steven Baddour, D-Methuen, and Sen. Michael Knapik, R-Westfield.
Massachusetts is rated Aa1 by Moody’s Investors Service, AA by Standard & Poor’s, and AA-plus by Fitch Ratings.
