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BOSTON – Wednesday, January 25, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick today filed his Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) budget recommendation, a balanced and fiscally responsible plan that reflects the Governor's unprecedented commitment to education, health care, creating jobs and other key priorities that support long-term job growth and prosperity and will continue to accelerate the Commonwealth's economic recovery.

In the face of unprecedented fiscal challenges, government needs to be smarter about how it delivers services.  Reforms included in the Governor’s budget proposal will drive innovation and implement bold changes to improve accountability and transparency.

The budget invests in Governor Patrick’s four key priorities: growing jobs, closing the achievement gap in our schools, lowering health care costs and ending youth violence by supporting positive youth development.

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BOSTON - Friday, November 18, 2011 – Governor Deval Patrick today signed comprehensive pension reform legislation, continuing the Patrick-Murray Administration's efforts to end abuses and close loopholes to create a sustainable public pension system. The bill signed today, S. 2065, “An Act Providing For Pension Reform and Benefit Modernization”, builds on legislation signed during the Governor's first term that eliminated the most egregious abuses in the public retirement system.

“We are committed to finding additional ways to eliminate costs in state government and end abuses within the system,” said Governor Patrick. “I’m proud to sign this third phase of comprehensive pension reform legislation that will improve the public’s trust in government and ensure the pension system’s economic sustainability for future generations.”

Coupled with the initial two phases of reform, this comprehensive package is expected to save taxpayers more than $5 billion over 30 years, including an estimated $2 billion for cities and towns across the Commonwealth.

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BOSTON – Thursday, November 17, 2011 – Governor Deval Patrick today unveiled the Administration's latest five-year Capital Investment plan, which builds on the Patrick-Murray Administration's unprecedented efforts to stimulate job creation and support long-term economic growth by calling for record level investments in the Commonwealth’s higher education, transportation, economic development, housing and other infrastructure and assets.

“These investments will put thousands of people back to work and ensure that Massachusetts continues to recover faster and stronger than most states,” said Governor Patrick. “These targeted projects will help address our short-term economic challenges and lay the foundation for long-term growth for generations to come.”

The Fiscal Year 2012-2016 (FY12-16) Capital Investment Plan is the fifth five-year plan that reflects the Patrick-Murray Administration’s priorities of creating jobs and improving the economy by investing in public education, supporting our innovation industries and strengthening our infrastructure. The plan seeks to support the Administration’s goals by investing in the Commonwealth’s public assets – roads and bridges, classrooms and academic buildings and public housing. The plan also invests in the Commonwealth's innovation industries to create thousands of jobs and set the stage for future economic growth.

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Under the new municipal health care reform legislation (Chapter 69 of the Acts of 2011), A&F is responsible for adopting regulations as guidance to communities seeking to implement changes in health insurance plans under the process created by the new law. The regulations establish administrative procedures for the expedited negotiations that will occur between municipalities and public employee committees and for the process to be followed by a municipal health insurance review panel if the matter is not resolved during the expedited negotiations.

The permanent regulations are now available. 

The Executive Office for Administration and Finance filed emergency regulations on August 12, 2011 because of the urgent need to provide guidance to communities choosing to take advantage of this new tool.  Emergency regulations are effective for no longer than three months from the time of the filing date. In recent months, A&F took the required steps to transition the regulations from emergency to permanent status, including an additional opportunity for public comment.  The updated regulations were filed with the Secretary of State’s office, which published the permanent regulations in the Central Register on Friday, November 11, 2011.

Municipal Health Reform Permanent Regulation 

Ethics Commission Opinion Letter 

Governor Patrick Signs Municipal Health Care Reform to Save Millions for Massachusetts Communities
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GIC Regulations on Municipal Health Coverage 
These provisions regulate GIC coverage of employees, dependents, retirees, and survivors of cities, towns, regional school districts, and local area planning councils that have opted to provide health benefits through the GIC.