Mass. Gov. Patrick submits $34.8B budget plan - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Mass. Gov. Patrick submits $34.8B budget plan

BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick is detailing his proposed $34.8 billion state budget, which he says focuses on nurturing the Massachusetts economy.
    
The spending plan unveiled Wednesday includes $1.2 billion in net revenues from tax changes Patrick proposed last week. Those include a hike in the income tax rate, from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent, and a sales tax cut, from 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent.
    
Patrick said the net revenue increase would go toward improving transportation and education.
    
Patrick said his budget would increase local education funding by $226 million over the current year and set total local aid to cities and towns at nearly $5.6 billion, about 14.6 percent of all state spending.
    
Lawmakers are expected to spend months reviewing Patrick's plan before proposing their own budgets for the fiscal year which starts July 1.

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