Combined Sources
(undated) — The state’s budget picture continues to look bleak heading into next year. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimates that the worsening economic conditions could result in the state collecting $6 billion dollars less than anticipated just five months ago. State lawmakers have pegged the deficit at closer to $5 billion. The MTA also predicts that Massachusetts will lose 725,000 jobs from April through June, which would push the unemployment rate in the commonwealth to 22 percent