Massachusetts lawmakers send $52.7 billion budget to governor

A $52.7 billion state budget proposal is heading to Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker's desk.

Driving the news: Lawmakers passed the proposal Monday night. The budget includes funding for child care centers, critical MBTA fixes and behavioral health.

• The proposal passed 18 days into the new fiscal year. (The state has been operating on a temporary budget this month to buy lawmakers time.)

Why it matters: Legislators are spending your money, give or take some millions in federal funding. You deserve to know where it's going.

What makes a budget? Usually there are some key components that take up the bulk of state spending.

• Nearly $19.5 billion in gross funding is set aside for MassHealth, which offers health coverage to about 2 million people.
• $3.8 billion is going to the state's pension fund.
• Nearly $1.5 billion is going to the state's "rainy day" fund, bringing its balance to a record $7.35 billion.
• $6 billion is going to Chapter 70 education aid, which offers $60 in aid per public school student.

What's new: The Senate secured $250 million in funding to continue grants for early education and child care centers.

• $266 million will fund the MBTA's efforts to fix critical safety hazards under orders from the Federal Transit Administration.
• $110 million is set aside to extend the universal school meals program, since the federal program expired in June.
• $20 million will be for behavioral health investments.

Plus: The budget sets the foundation for distributing long-awaited tax breaks to Bay Staters by creating a trust fund to hold the money.

Yes, but: The details of the tax breaks are in a separate set of bills — the House and Senate's economic development proposals.

• The House passed its economic development package last week with more than $500 million in tax breaks for renters, seniors, parents and low-income workers.

• The Senate's bill, which is up for a vote on Thursday, includes those same tax breaks with some differences.
• The House wants the tax breaks to take effect in 2023, while the Senate wants to implement them for the 2022 tax year.
• The House and Senate agree on raising the threshold for the estate tax to $2 million, but disagree on other aspects of the estate tax.

Reality check: Once the Senate passes its economic development bill, lawmakers have barely a week to reach an agreement and pass a final bill.

• The bill would get to Baker so close to the end of the legislative session, they wouldn't have time to override any veto the governor makes.
• Meanwhile, lawmakers are also negotiating deals on about a dozen other major bills before July 31.

The bottom line: Legislative leaders have crossed the budget off their to-do list, but they have other work to do before they can bring tax relief to residents.