In the News

Governor Approves Amendment Dedicating Facilities Funds to Smaller Organizations

Jan. 8, 2008

Dear Friends,

Yesterday afternoon, Governor Patrick signed the amended FY 08 supplemental budget into law. After approving an additional $7 million for the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund last fall, the Governor returned the supplemental budget to the Legislature requesting changes to the other sections of the budget.

During the subsequent legislative process, an amendment was approved to dedicate $5.5 million of the $7 million increase announced last fall to cultural organizations with annual budgets under $5 million. The Governor also approved that amendment yesterday.

Yesterday's signing by the Governor does not raise the total appropriation, but rather confirms the legislative intent to dedicate $5.5 million from the $7 million supplemental budget only to smaller cultural organizations.

The Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund has now received $25 million during the first two years of appropriations, respectively $13 million in FY 07 and $12 million in FY 08. Approximately $7 million remains to be awarded to cultural organizations of which $5.5 million is now required by law to be awarded to qualified organizations with budgets under $5 million.

MAASH thanks Speaker Sal DiMasi, Senate President Therese Murray and Governor Deval Patrick for supporting the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund through the long budget process.

MassDevelopment will make its decisions on the allocation of the last $7 million at a meeting on Feb. 14.

Thank you,
Dan Hunter
Executive Director
Massachusetts Advocates for the arts Sciences & Humanities

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