Senate releases budget draft

BOSTON (WWLP) - The Massachusetts Senate announced its version of the fiscal year 2026 budget, and it has some notable differences from the House's recently passed version.

This $61.3 billion budget is lower than both the governor's and the House's drafts, but still more than double the rate of growth as last year, at $3.6 billion.

Neither House nor Senate versions feature tax increases. The Senate plans instead to use over a billion dollars in one-time spending, in partnership with other functionally non-discretionary increases for health and human services, education funding, insurance, and more.

The Senate is also calling to redirect millionaire's tax money, which can only be spent on education and transportation. The branch is proposing to spend $1.95 billion of the funding, with two-thirds going to education initiatives, and the remainder towards the MBTA and regional transportation authorities.

The money the Senate wants to spend on transportation is much less than the governor and House planned for, and education is funded much more, which could prove to be a point of contention in negotiations.

The Senate also wants to increase some municipal funding that the House is leveling.

Senate budget debate begins in two weeks, but budget revisions could happen before or after this debate, depending on federal funding levels.

This budget is expected to pass by Memorial Day, and negotiators will then need to work out their differences with the House.