Gov. talks budget priorities

Following an annual budget hearing earlier this week to predict the state's incoming tax revenue, the governor is working on her annual budget proposal. 22 News state house reporter Olivia Ray has what Governor Healey is focusing on to draft her spending plan >> news tonight. >> The governor will release her budget plan for fiscal year 2027 in just a month and preparations are well underway. It's the first step in the budget formulation process and the governor's plan sets the groundwork for House and Senate drafts in the spring. Governor Healey says her top priority for her budget plan is to work towards a more affordable Bay State. >> Whether it's housing costs, energy costs, healthcare costs, we're going to stay laser focused on affordability and how to make life less expensive for people in Massachusetts. >> The state's revenue commissioner said in a hearing on Tuesday that revenue from the state surplus sir tax is expected to decline in 2027. When asked by reporters after an unrelated event about the impact of the decline, the governor said the blame for budget troubles falls on the federal government. >> What President Trump and Congress have done already um has been really uh really um detrimental to budgets of states around the country, including Massachusetts budgets. The governor pointed to the trillion dollar cut in federal health care expenditure which leaves states in the position of working to bridge funding gaps or see health care systems like hospitals and community health centers suffer the effects of major funding loss. The governor was also asked about a potential ballot question to lower the income tax rate and she again deflected to say budget issues stem from the Trump administration. working for you from the state house in Boston.