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Executive Office for Administration and Finance
Department of Veterans` Services
The Department of Veterans' Services is responsible for ensuring the health and welfare of the Commonwealth’s veterans by administering programs which provide aid to qualified veterans and their dependents. These include the management of transitional housing units, homeless shelters, and nine regional outreach centers to help veterans needing emergency assistance; the administration of a one-time cash bonus program for veterans of the Persian Gulf War; disbursement of annuities to certain disabled veterans and parents of certain deceased veterans; and reimbursement of financial, medical, and burial benefits, and property tax exemptions provided to qualifying veterans and their families by cities and towns.
Objectives
In Fiscal Year 2000, the Department, in cooperation with the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, will begin construction of a state veterans’ cemetery in Winchendon.
Budget Recommendations
The Fiscal Year 2000 recommendation includes a $293,310 increase for Veterans’ Benefits (1410-0400) to reimburse cities and towns for the costs of providing flags for veterans’ graves, burial of indigent veterans, and training for veterans’ agents. This proposal also includes a $1.2 million increase for annuities to veterans (1410-0300) and an increase of $60,000 to the Department’s administration account (1410-0010) to accommodate an expected increase of 800 annuity applications over Fiscal Year 1999.
Budgetary Direct Appropriations
| DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS` SERVICES ADMINISTRATION |
| 1410-0010 |
For the operation of the department of veterans` services
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2,105,768 |
| VETERANS` OUTREACH CENTERS |
| 1410-0012 |
For the operation of veterans` outreach centers
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905,172 |
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| WOMEN VETERANS` OUTREACH |
| 1410-0015 |
For the women veterans` outreach program
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25,000 |
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| VETERANS` SERVICES PENSION RECOVERY REVENUE MAXIMIZATION |
| 1410-0100 |
For the elder affairs cost avoidance and cost recovery project
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126,183 |
| ASSISTANCE TO HOMELESS VETERANS |
| 1410-0250 |
For the operation of homeless shelters and transitional housing for veterans
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1,157,775 |
| NEW ENGLAND SHELTER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS |
| 1410-0251 |
For the operation of a homeless shelter and transitional housing for veterans at the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans
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2,250,000 |
| ANNUITIES TO CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS |
| 1410-0300 |
For the payment of annuities to certain disabled veterans and parents of certain deceased veterans
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7,200,000 |
| VETERANS` BENEFITS |
| 1410-0400 |
For reimbursements to cities and towns for payments to certain veterans pursuant to section 6 of chapter 115 of the General Laws
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7,706,310 |
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| AGAWAM VETERANS` CEMETERY |
| 1410-0620 |
For the administration of the veterans` cemetery in the town of Agawam
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147,320 |
Trust and Other Spending
| 1410-0500 |
TRAINING EXPENDABLE TRUST |
15,000 |
| 1410-0600 |
WAR VETERANS` REIMBURSEMENT FUND |
2,000 |
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