By JEFF TIRRELL
(ASHLAND, MA) — Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker on Tuesday filed a $1 billion supplemental budget directly related to costs incurred by the Covid 19 pandemic.
“These expenses include the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment, rate adjustments for providers of congregate care and other essential human services, incentive pay for state employees on the front lines at certain facilities in operation 24 hours a day, costs of temporary field hospitals and shelters, National Guard pay, the first statewide contract tracing program in the country, emergency child care for essential workers, and increased costs of local housing authorities and of the family and individual shelter system,” Baker said.
He said the administration anticipates the full cost of the bill would be reimbursed by federal government programs, such as aid from the the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the CARES Act.
Baker said he is asking the legislature to pass the supplemental bill as soon as possible.