Afternoon Briefs: $3.6 Billion Surplus Clinic Workers Join Union
- MTF Estimates "Historic" Budget Surplus Of $3.6 Billion
- Planned Parenthood Workers Vote To Join 1199SEIU
MTF Estimates "Historic" Budget Surplus Of $3.6 Billion
The Department of Revenue is still counting, but the budget watchers at the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation expect that the Legislature will have a surplus of $3.6 billion when the final accounting of the fiscal year that ended last week is complete. Through May, the state had collected $36.969 billion in tax revenue for fiscal year 2022 -- $2.666 billion or 7.8 percent ahead of expectations. Combined with two upgrades the executive branch made during the budget year, MTF said Massachusetts is $5.932 billion ahead of benchmark. But that's not the anticipated surplus. Supplemental spending has wiped out about $1.6 billion of the overage, about $1.2 billion in above-benchmark capital gains will be statutorily bound for reserves and more than $250 million is due to the School Building Authority and MBTA. When all is said and done, including accounting for an addition $750 million in federal revenue, MTF said it anticipates the final FY2022 surplus will be roughly $3.588 billion, which it notes would be more than twice as large as the roughly $1.5 billion surplus of fiscal year 2021. "The primary reason the surplus is larger this year is because the original FY 2021 budget relied on close to $2 billion in one-time resources, including the Stabilization Fund. Much of last year's excess tax revenue was used to eliminate the need for these temporary revenues. The original FY 2022 budget did not rely on the Stabilization Fund or other one-time resources, freeing up excess tax revenues for the surplus," MTF wrote in its brief. The organization pointed out four things that could change its calculations: if June revenues come in above the $3.363 billion benchmark, the surplus will increase; a greater amount of above-benchmark capital gains would divert more to the state's rainy day fund; an updated view of outstanding account deficiencies could eat away at some of the surplus; and significant reversions, or appropriated funds that go unspent, could increase the surplus. "The FY 2022 budget surplus will be historic and it will require careful planning to use it effectively and sustainably," MTF said.In addition to any FY2022 surplus, the Legislature also has $2.3 billion in unspent American Rescue Plan Act money at its disposal and is expecting that the state will collect at least $36.915 billion in tax revenue in fiscal year 2023, which began July 1. - Colin A. Young/SHNS
Planned Parenthood Workers Vote To Join 1199SEIU
Nearly 200 workers at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts clinics in Boston, Worcester, Marlborough and Springfield have voted to join 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. The mail-ballot election was completed Wednesday afternoon and the workers will join their counterparts from Planned Parenthood clinics in other states that have already voted to join the union, according to 1199SEIU. The union said 98 percent of workers voted to enlist in the union, and they included health care assistants, nurses, patient navigators, educators, telehealth workers, advanced practice clinicians, and advocates. "This victory reinforces that there's a tremendous amount of power when workers come together. Unionizing has been a way for us to invest in each other and gain some control over what our workplace looks like, especially given the climate we are in," Cara Callahan, a continuity of care patient navigator at PPLM, said. "We want to live our shared values to provide care for ourselves and one another. This ensures we can center our patients and make sure they get the quality care they need and deserve." PPLM workers began organizing in early 2022, filing for their union election in May. The union said recruitment and retention efforts "have risen to critical importance for workers, especially in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned and the expected increase of patients seeking care in Massachusetts." - Michael P. Norton/SHNS
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7/6/2022