Yesterday the Governor signed into law an increase of the minimum wage to $11 by 2017. This is projected to raise the wages of approximately 605,000 workers. Two MassBudget fact sheets provide data on who these workers are and where they … [Read more...]
Jobs & Workforce Programs in the State Budget
One of the most important things we do together through government is to support the development of people's skills to enable more of us to find good jobs, provide for our families, and contribute to the Massachusetts economy. With support … [Read more...]
MassBudget’s Analysis of Senate Ways & Means FY 2015 Budget Proposal
Last week, the Senate Ways and Means Committee (SWM) made its budget recommendations for FY 2015 and MassBudget released an analysis, available HERE. The SWM budget proposes small, smart and well-targeted steps toward addressing big … [Read more...]
Value of the minimum wage is eroded quickly by inflation
Restoring the value of the minimum wage can be an effective way to reward work and help low wage workers support themselves and their families. Adjusted for inflation, the minimum wage was $10.86 an hour in 1968. Today it is just over $8.00 … [Read more...]
MassBudget analysis of House FY2015 Budget amendments
During three days of budget debate the House made only modest changes to the budget put forward by the Ways and Means Committee. Overall, the House added $143.9 million in amendments, about a third of one percent of the budget. The final … [Read more...]
Building a Foundation for Success: Early Ed & Care in MA
Today we released a new report that examines options for improving educational opportunity for children in Massachusetts by expanding access to early education and care and improving quality. The research is clear that education and care … [Read more...]
Job Growth Unrelated to States’ Tipped Minimum Wage
A strong minimum wage helps workers support their families, and it can bolster our economy by increasing the amount of money workers have to spend at local businesses. In the case of workers who regularly earn tips, like waiters and … [Read more...]
Analyzing the Governor’s Budget for FY 2015
Yesterday, the Governor filed his budget proposal for FY 2015—his blueprint for what he thinks we should do together through state government in the coming year (and how we will pay for those things.) Unlike his proposal last year, … [Read more...]
A Preview of the FY 2015 Budget
With the national economy still struggling to recover from the Great Recession, for the sixth year in a row Massachusetts starts the budget process facing a substantial gap between ongoing revenue and the cost of maintaining current … [Read more...]
The State of Working Massachusetts
A strong economy is one that works for everyone, including young and experienced workers, children and families, lower-wage and high-wage earners. Over the past year, the Massachusetts economy has continued to grow and the median income has … [Read more...]