Massachusetts state budget and finances

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Public Policy Logo-one line.pngin Massachusetts

Massachusetts budget and finances
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General information
Budget calendar:
Annual
Fiscal year:
2017
State credit rating:
AA+
Current governor:
Charles D. Baker
Financial figures
Total spending (state and federal funds):
$55.0 billion (estimated for 2015)
Per capita spending:
$8,090.46 (estimated for 2015)
Total state tax collections:
$25.2 billion (2014)
Per capita tax collections:
$3,735.79 (2014)
State debt:
$129.6 billion (as of 2014)
Per capita state debt:
$19,493 (as of 2014)
Public Policy Logo-one line.png
State budget and finance pages • Total state expenditures • State debt • Tax policy in Massachusetts
Note: This page contains information from several sources. As such, the information given varies somewhat by year, but reflects the most recent data available as of April 2016.
In Massachusetts, as in other states, lawmakers and public officials are elected in large part to manage the state's complex finances. This includes generating revenues (money coming into the state from various sources) and approving expenditures (the money spent on governmental functions and servicing state debt). State budgets are complicated and fluid, as they depend on anticipated revenues and planned expenditures, which may change over the course of a fiscal year. All citizens are affected by their state's budget and financial situation; if revenues do not keep pace with expenditures, states generally have to raise taxes, cut services, borrow money, or a combination of the three. State budget decisions are also influenced by policy decisions at the national level, such as the Affordable Care Act or energy and environmental regulations, and issues at the local level, such as crime and the quality of education.
HIGHLIGHTS
  • Between fiscal years 2014 and 2015, total government spending in Massachusetts increased by approximately $1.3 billion—from $53.7 billion in fiscal year 2014 to an estimated $55.0 billion in 2015. This represents a 2.28-percent increase.[1][2][3]
  • In Massachusetts in fiscal year 2014, 61.2 percent of total tax revenues came from income taxes. Sales taxes and gross receipts accounted for 31.4 percent of total state tax collections.
  • Education accounted for 22.4 percent of state expenditures in fiscal year 2015, while 21.4 percent went to Medicaid.

    • The Massachusetts state budget and financial data presented here come from different years because the states and the federal government report and publish the information at different times.

    Definitions

    The following terms are used to describe a state's finances:

    • Revenues come mainly from tax collections, licensing fees, federal aid, and returns on investments.
    • Expenditures generally include spending on government salaries, infrastructure, education, public pensions, public assistance, corrections, Medicaid, and transportation.
    • State debt refers to the money borrowed to make up for a deficit when revenues do not cover spending.
    • The state credit rating is the grade given by a credit rating agency based on the general financial health of the state's government and economy.
    • State funds include general and other state-based funds. A general fund is "the predominant fund for financing a state's operations." Other state funds are "restricted by law for particular governmental functions or activities."[4]
    • Federal funds are "funds received directly from the federal government."[4]
    • Total spending is calculated by adding together the totals for state and federal funds used for expenditures.

    Note: In comparing dollar amounts across the states, it is important to remember that the cost of living varies greatly from state to state and even within a state. The amounts given on this page have not been adjusted to reflect these differences. For more information on "regional price disparities" and the Consumer Price Index, see the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

    Revenues

    2014 revenues

    See also: State government tax collections by source

    The table below breaks down state government tax collections by source in 2014 (comparable figures from surrounding states are also provided to give additional context). Figures for all columns except "2013 population" and "Per capita collections" are rendered in thousands of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000). Figures in the columns labeled "2013 population" and "Per capita collections" have not been abbreviated.[5]

    Compared to neighboring states, Massachusetts had the second highest state tax collections per capita, at $3,736.

    State tax collections by source ($ in thousands), 2014
    State Property taxes Sales and gross receipts Licenses Income taxes Other taxes Total 2013 population Per capita collections
    Massachusetts $3,433 $7,933,030 $1,012,557 $15,440,841 $845,865 $25,235,726 6,755,124 $3,736
    Connecticut N/A $6,782,404 $433,024 $8,399,960 $322,354 $15,937,742 3,594,762 $4,434
    Maine $35,755 $1,911,398 $254,251 $1,597,038 $48,739 $3,847,181 1,330,256 $2,892
    New Hampshire $383,126 $877,035 $280,011 $635,590 $106,745 $2,282,507 1,327,996 $1,719
    Rhode Island $2,591 $1,566,191 $132,146 $1,208,517 $56,530 $2,965,975 1,054,907 $2,812
    United States $14,232,835 $411,414,175 $51,120,024 $357,104,785 $31,880,270 $865,752,089 318,907,401 $2,715
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "2014 annual survey of state government tax collections by category," accessed April 4, 2016
    Massachusetts tax collections by source in 2014.
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau

    The table below lists 2014 tax collections by source as percentages of total collections. About 61.2 percent of Massachusetts' total state tax collections came from income taxes.[5]

    State tax collections by source (as percentages), 2014
    State Property taxes Sales and gross receipts Licenses Income taxes Other taxes
    Massachusetts 0.0% 31.4% 4.0% 61.2% 3.4%
    Connecticut N/A 42.6% 2.7% 52.7% 2.0%
    Maine 0.9% 49.7% 6.6% 41.5% 1.3%
    New Hampshire 16.8% 38.4% 12.3% 27.8% 4.7%
    Rhode Island 0.1% 52.8% 4.5% 40.7% 1.9%
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "2014 annual survey of state government tax collections by category," accessed April 4, 2016

    Federal aid to the state budget

    See also: Federal aid to state budgets

    State governments receive aid from the federal government to fund a variety of joint programs, mainly in the form of grants for such things as Medicaid, education, and transportation. In 2013 federal aid to the states accounted for roughly 30 percent of all state general revenues. Federal aid varies considerably from state to state. For example, Mississippi received approximately $7.5 billion in federal aid in 2013, accounting for about 43 percent of the state's general revenues, the highest percentage of all of the states. By contrast, North Dakota received about $1.5 billion in federal aid in 2013, or just 19 percent of the state's general revenues, the lowest percentage in the nation.[6]

    The table below notes what share of Massachusetts’ general revenues came from the federal government in 2013. That year, Massachusetts received approximately $13.2 billion in federal aid, 28.7 percent of the state's general revenues. Taking into consideration the state's 2013 population, this came out to about $1,977 in federal aid per capita. Figures from surrounding states are provided for additional context.[7]

    Federal aid to state budgets, 2013
    State Total federal aid ($ in thousands) Federal aid as a % of general revenues Ranking (by % of general revenues) Est. 2013 population Aid per capita
    Massachusetts $13,233,244 28.7% 32 6,692,824 $1,977
    Connecticut $5,949,159 23.4% 46 3,596,080 $1,654
    Maine $2,821,145 35.3% 10 1,328,302 $2,124
    New Hampshire $1,659,853 27.1% 38 1,323,459 $1,254
    Rhode Island $2,331,473 33.6% 18 1,051,511 $2,217
    Sources: United States Census Bureau, "State Government Finances: 2013," accessed April 4, 2016
    United States Census Bureau, "State totals: Vintage 2013," accessed April 8, 2016
    Note: Per-capita figures were generated by Ballotpedia by dividing total federal aid for the state by the estimated population of that state in 2013.

    Spending

    Estimated 2015 expenditures

    See also: Total state expenditures

    The table below breaks down estimated spending totals for fiscal year 2015 (comparable figures from surrounding states are included to provide additional context). Figures for all columns except "Population” and “Per capita spending" are rendered in millions of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000,000). Figures in the columns labeled "Population” and “Per capita spending" have not been abbreviated.[2]

    Massachusetts' total estimated government spending in fiscal year 2015 was $55 billion, which was the highest amount when compared to surrounding states.

    Total estimated state spending, FY 2015 ($ in millions)
    State State funds Federal funds Total spending Population Per capita spending
    Massachusetts $45,535 $9,435 $54,970 6,794,422 $8,090.46
    Connecticut $21,741 $5,980 $27,721 3,590,886 $7,719.82
    Maine $5,189 $2,422 $7,611 1,329,328 $5,725.45
    New Hampshire $3,444 $1,944 $5,388 1,330,608 $4,049.28
    Rhode Island $5,997 $2,820 $8,817 1,056,298 $8,347.08
    Per-capita figures are calculated by taking the state's total spending and dividing by the number of state residents according to United States Census Bureau estimates.[8]
    Source: National Association of State Budget Officers, "Examining fiscal 2013-2015 state spending," accessed April 4, 2016

    Spending by function

    Breakdown of spending by function in FY 2014.
    Source: National Association of State Budget Officers
    See also: State spending by function as a percent of total expenditures

    State spending in Massachusetts can be further broken down by function (elementary and secondary education, public assistance, etc.). Fiscal year 2014 information is included in the table below (information from neighboring states is provided for additional context). Figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category.[2]

    In fiscal year 2014, Medicaid accounted for 21.4 percent of Massachusetts' total expenditures.

    State spending by function as a percent of total expenditures, FY 2014
    State K-12 education Higher education Public assistance Medicaid Corrections Transportation Other
    Massachusetts 12.0% 10.4% 2.2% 21.4% 2.4% 7.7% 44.0%
    Connecticut 14.2% 10.6% 1.3% 23.2% 2.6% 9.5% 38.6%
    Maine 17.0% 3.5% 2.1% 34.4% 2.0% 7.8% 33.2%
    New Hampshire 22.2% 2.5% 1.5% 26.8% 2.0% 9.8% 35.2%
    Rhode Island 13.4% 12.0% 1.2% 24.8% 2.3% 6.3% 39.9%
    Source: National Association of State Budget Officers
    Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."[2]

    Spending trends

    Between 2010 and 2014, the share of the Massachusetts state budget spent on higher education increased from 7.9 percent in 2010 to 10.4 percent in 2014. See the table below for further details (figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category).[2][9][10]

    Spending by function from 2010 to 2014 (as percentages)
    Year K-12 education Higher education Public assistance Medicaid Corrections Transportation Other
    2014 12.0% 10.4% 2.2% 21.4% 2.4% 7.7% 44.0%
    2013 11.2% 10.1% 2.7% 18.7% 2.3% 6.6% 48.5%
    2012 10.7% 9.3% 2.5% 20.7% 2.1% 6.2% 48.6%
    2011 11.6% 9.9% 2.4% 19.2% 2.3% 6.2% 48.3%
    2010 12.9% 7.9% 2.5% 18.8% 2.5% 6.9% 48.6%
    Source: National Association of State Budget Officers
    Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."[2]

    Current fiscal year budget

    See also: Historical Massachusetts budget and finance information

    Fiscal year 2016

    DocumentIcon.jpg See budget bill: HB 3650

    Verbatim fact check: Has the Massachusetts Lottery failed to expand funding for education and other public services?
    No. Lottery funding for the form of direct aid controlled by municipalities and used for a range of public services has increased over time. Read Ballotpedia's Verbatim fact check »


    Governor Charlie Baker announced his fiscal year 2016 budget proposal on March 4, 2015. This proposal would have increased total spending by about 3 percent by raising funding for local aid, education and transportation. The proposed budget would have also eliminated the state's tax credit for the film industry and expanded the state's earned income tax credit. The plan would have also offered an early retirement incentive program to enhance job growth and prevent forced layoffs.[11]

    Governor Baker signed the state's fiscal year 2016 budget into law on July 17, 2015 after making about $162 million in line-item vetoes. The governor stated that this budget was similar to his proposal and addressed a $1.8 billion spending gap without any new taxes. The budget also made investments in local aid, education and transportation, as the governor had proposed in his budget.[11]

    State debt

    See also: State debt

    According to a January 2014 report by the nonprofit organization State Budget Solutions, Massachusetts had a state debt of approximately $129.6 billion. Its state debt per capita was $19,493. In this report for fiscal year 2012, state debt was calculated based on four components: "market-valued unfunded public pension liabilities, outstanding government debt, unfunded other post employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities, and outstanding unemployment trust fund loans." The report revealed that altogether state governments faced a combined $5.1 trillion in debt, which amounted to $16,178 per capita in the nation.[12][13]

    Total 2012 state debt
    State Total state debt State debt per capita Per capita debt ranking
    Massachusetts $129,550,263,000 $19,493 12
    Connecticut $112,372,072,000 $31,298 3
    Maine $16,717,250,000 $12,577 35
    New Hampshire $18,425,567,000 $13,951 27
    Rhode Island $18,863,153,000 $17,960 16
    Sources: State Budget Solutions, "State Budget Solutions' Fourth Annual State Debt Report," January 8, 2014

    Taxpayer burden

    Tia logo.png

    TIA Methodology: To figure a state’s taxpayer burden or surplus, TIA looked at a state’s total reported assets minus capital assets and assets restricted by law (buildings, roads, land, etc.) to calculate “available assets,” which were then compared to the amount of money the state owes in bills, including retirement obligations such as pension plans and health care benefits for retirees.

    If the difference between available assets and total bills was positive, TIA called this a surplus; if it was negative, this was a burden. This amount was then divided by the number of individual tax returns with a positive tax liability, thus expressing the total state surplus or burden on a per-taxpayer basis.

    According to a report released in September 2015 by the nonprofit Truth in Accounting (TIA), Massachusetts ranked 5th worst in the country in “taxpayer burden.” Rather than using per capita state debt, TIA ranked states based on what it called a “taxpayer burden,” a term that reflects “the amount each taxpayer would have to send to their state’s treasury in order for the state to be debt-free.” On the other hand, states that had sufficient resources to pay their bills were said to have a “taxpayer surplus,” which represents the amount that each taxpayer would receive if the state were to disburse its excess funds.

    Based on analysis of Massachusetts’ Comprehensive Annual Financial Report from June 30, 2014 and actuarial reports for the state’s retirement plans, TIA concluded that $44.9 billion in promised retirement benefits were unfunded, but only $8.1 billion of these liabilities were reported on Massachusetts’ balance sheet. With all of the unfunded retirement benefits included in the total debt, the state had a shortfall of $67.2 billion, or a taxpayer burden of $27,400.[14]

    Public pensions

    See also: Massachusetts public pensions and Massachusetts public employee salaries

    Between fiscal years 2008 and 2012, the funded ratio of Massachusetts' state-administered pension plans decreased from 80.49 percent to 66.4 percent. The state paid 87 percent of its annual required contribution, and for fiscal year 2012 the pension system's unfunded accrued liability totaled $21.6 billion. This amounted to $3,338 in unfunded liabilities per capita.[15][16]

    Credit ratings

    See also: State credit ratings

    Credit rating agencies, such as Standard and Poor's, assign grades to states that take into account a state's ability to pay debts and the general health of the state's economy. Generally speaking, a higher credit rating indicates lower interest costs on the general obligation bonds states sometimes sell to investors in order to finance large-scale undertakings (e.g., road construction and other public works projects). This in turn results in lower interest costs, thereby lowering the cost to taxpayers.[17][18]

    The table below lists the Standard and Poor's credit ratings for Massachusetts and surrounding states from 2004 to 2014. Standard and Poor's grades range from AAA, the highest available, to BBB, the lowest.[19]

    State credit ratings, 2004 to 2014
    State 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004
    Massachusetts AA+ AA+ AA+ AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA-
    Connecticut AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA
    Maine AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA- AA- AA
    New Hampshire AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA
    Rhode Island AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA-
    Source: Stateline: The Daily News Service of The Pew Charitable Trusts, "Infographic: S&P State Credit Ratings, 2001-2014," June 9, 2014

    Economic indicators

    See also: Economic indicators by state
    Massachusetts' GDP increased by 2.3 percent in 2014. Click the image to view a larger version.

    Broadly defined, a healthy economy is typically one that has a "stable and strong rate of economic growth" (gross state product, in this case) and low unemployment, among many other factors. The economic health of a state can significantly affect its healthcare costs, insurance coverage, access to care, and citizens' physical and mental health. For instance, during economic downturns, employers may reduce insurance coverage for employees, while those who are laid off may lose coverage altogether. Individuals also tend to spend less on non-urgent care or postpone visits to the doctor when times are hard. These changes in turn may affect the decisions made by policymakers as they react to shifts in the industry. Additionally, a person's socioeconomic status has profound effects on their access to care and the quality of care received.[20][21][22]

    Most residents in Massachusetts earned incomes that were at least 400 percent above the federal poverty level in 2013. The state's median annual household income between 2011 and 2013 was $64,555, far above the national average. The unemployment rate was in Massachusetts was about on par with the national rate.[23][24][25][26]

    Note: Gross state product (GSP) on its own is not necessarily an indicator of economic health; GSP may also be influenced by state population size. Many factors must be looked at together to assess state economic health.

    Various economic indicators by state
    State Distribution of population by FPL* (2013) Median annual income (2011-2013) Unemployment rate Total GSP (2013)†
    Under 100% 100-199% 200-399% 400%+ Sept. 2013 Sept. 2014
    Massachusetts 12% 15% 24% 49% $64,555 7.2% 6% $446,323
    Connecticut 11% 13% 26% 50% $67,807 7.7% 6.4% $249,251
    New Hampshire 9% 13% 29% 49% $69,888 5.2% 4.3% $67,848
    New York 15% 20% 26% 39% $51,962 7.5% 6.2% $1,310,712
    United States 15% 19% 30% 36% $52,047 7.2% 5.9% $16,701,415
    * Federal Poverty Level. "The U.S. Census Bureau's poverty threshold for a family with two adults and one child was $18,751 in 2013. This is the official measurement of poverty used by the Federal Government."
    † Median annual household income, 2011-2013.
    ‡ In millions of current dollars. "Gross State Product is a measurement of a state's output; it is the sum of value added from all industries in the state."
    Source: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "State Health Facts"


    Budget process

    State documents and agencies
    Below are links to official Massachusetts budget and financial documents. The first is the state's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). A CAFR is a detailed presentation of a government entity's financial condition. This includes fiscal activities and balances for a fiscal year. The second link is to the state's relevant budget agency or office.

    The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[27][28]

    1. Budget instruction guidelines are sent to state agencies in July of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
    2. State agencies submit their budget requests in September.
    3. Agency hearings are held in August and September.
    4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature on the fourth Wednesday in January.
    5. The legislature typically adopts a budget in June. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins July 1.

    Massachusetts is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[28]

    The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is legally required to pass a balanced budget.[28]

    Agencies, offices, and committees

    The following standing committees in the Massachusetts State Legislature deal with budget and finance matters:[29][30][31]

    1. Revenue Joint Committee, Massachusetts State Legislature
    2. Ways and Means Committee, Massachusetts House of Representatives
    3. Ways and Means Committee, Massachusetts State Senate

    Transparency

    See also: "Following the Money" report, 2015

    The U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a consumer-focused nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., released its annual report on state transparency websites in March 2015. The report, entitled "Following the Money," measured how transparent and accountable state websites are with regard to state government spending.[32] According to the report, Massachusetts received a grade of A and a numerical score of 95.5, indicating that Massachusetts was "Leading" in terms of transparency regarding state spending.[32]

    Budget and finance ballot measures

    Voting on state and local government budgets, spending, and finance
    State finance.jpg
    Policy
    Budget policy
    Ballot measures
    By state
    By year
    Not on ballot
    See also: Spending and finance on the ballot and List of Massachusetts ballot measures

    Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to state and local budget and financial matters in Massachusetts.

    1. Massachusetts Biennial Legislative Sessions and Budgets, Question 1 (1938)
    2. Massachusetts Restoration of Annual Legislative Sessions and Budgets, Question 3 (1944)
    3. Massachusetts Restriction on State Allocating Certain Costs to Cities, Question 5 (1980)
    4. Massachusetts Revenues for Highway Purposes, Question 2 (1948)
    5. Massachusetts State Budget Deadline, Question 2 (1978)
    6. Massachusetts State Highway Revenues Question (1974)
    7. Massachusetts State Student Loans, Question 4 (1972)
    8. Massachusetts Temporary Tax for Local Aid Fund, Question 6 (1966)

    Budget and finance legislation

    The following is a list of recent budget and finance bills that have been introduced in or passed by the Massachusetts state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

    Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Massachusetts budget. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles; they are included to provide readers with the most recent news articles on the subject. Click here to learn more about this section.

    Massachusetts state budget and finances - Google News Feed

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    See also

    External links

    Additional reading

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Bureau of Labor Statistics, "CPI Detailed Report Data for February 2015," accessed April 4, 2016
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Examining fiscal 2013-2015 state spending," accessed April 4, 2016
    3. ↑ InflationData.com, "Cumulative Inflation Calculator," accessed April 4, 2016. The cumulative rate of inflation during the same period declined -0.1 percent, calculated using the Consumer Price Indices for January 2014 and January 2015.
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 National Association of State Budget Officers, "State Expenditure Report: 2013-2015," accessed April 7, 2016
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 U.S. Census Bureau, "2014 annual survey of state government tax collections by category," accessed April 4, 2016
    6. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "State Government Finances: 2013," accessed March 21, 2016
    7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named federalaid
    8. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "State and County QuickFacts," accessed April 4, 2016
    9. ↑ National Association of State Budget Officers, "State Expenditure Report, 2009-2011," accessed February 24, 2014
    10. ↑ National Association of State Budget Officers, "State Expenditures Report, 2010-2012," accessed February 24, 2014
    11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Summaries of Fiscal Year 2016 Proposed and Enacted Budgets," accessed September 22, 2015
    12. ↑ State Budget Solutions, "State Budget Solutions' Fourth Annual State Debt Report," January 8, 2014
    13. ↑ In 2016, State Budget Solutions was absorbed by the American Legislative Exchange Council.
    14. ↑ Truth in Accounting, "Financial State of the States," September 2015
    15. ↑ Morningstar, "The State of State Pension Plans 2013: A Deep Dive Into Shortfalls and Surpluses," accessed September 16, 2013
    16. ↑ The Pew Charitable Trusts, “The Fiscal Health of State Pension Plans: Funding Gap Continues to Grow,” accessed April 16, 2015
    17. ↑ Stateline: The Daily News Service of The Pew Charitable Trusts, "Infographic: S&P State Credit Ratings, 2001-2012," July 13, 2012
    18. ↑ Bankrate, "The 6 states with the worst credit ratings," September 27, 2012
    19. ↑ Stateline: The Daily News Service of The Pew Charitable Trusts, "Infographic: S&P State Credit Ratings, 2001-2014," June 9, 2014
    20. ↑ Academy Health, "Impact of the Economy on Health Care," August 2009
    21. ↑ The Conversation, "Budget explainer: What do key economic indicators tell us about the state of the economy?" May 6, 2015
    22. ↑ Health Affairs, "Socioeconomic Disparities In Health: Pathways And Policies," accessed July 13, 2015
    23. ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Distribution of Total Population by Federal Poverty Level," accessed July 17, 2015
    24. ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Median Annual Household Income," accessed July 17, 2015
    25. ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Unemployment Rate (Seasonally Adjusted)," accessed July 17, 2015
    26. ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Total Gross State Product (GSP) (millions of current dollars)," accessed July 17, 2015
    27. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Experiences with Annual and Biennial Budgeting," updated April 2011
    28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Summer 2008," accessed February 21, 2014
    29. ↑ The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Joint Committees," accessed March 19, 2015
    30. ↑ The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Senate Committees," accessed March 19, 2015
    31. ↑ The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "House Committees," accessed March 19, 2015
    32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 U.S. Public Interest Research Group, "Following the Money 2015 Report," accessed April 4, 2016
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