Massachusetts’ budget increased cumulatively less than pop+inf in state funds but more than pop+inf in all funds from 2014-23, meaning taxes are lower in state funds and higher in all funds than the average taxpayer can afford. 

  • The 2023 state funds budget is $2.5 billion lower than it would have been had spending grown at the rate of population growth plus inflation over the past decade.
  • Because the state funds budget grew slower than population growth plus inflation for the last ten years, the state spent and taxed $57.5 billion less than possible.
  • The 2023 all funds budget is $11.0 billion higher than it would have been had spending grown at the rate of population growth plus inflation over the past decade.
  • Because the all funds budget grew faster than population growth plus inflation over the past decade, the state spent and taxed $11.9 billion too much.

State Funds Budget Data

  • Estimated FY 2024 Only State Funds Budget ($ Billions): $58.47
  • FY 2025 Only State Funds Budget Limit ($ Billions): $61.61
  • FY 2025 Only State Funds Budget Limit Growth ($ Billions): 5.38%
  • Cost per person of state funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade in 2023 budget: ($351)
  • Cost per family of 4 of budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade in 2023 budget: ($1,404)
  • Cumulative cost per person of state funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade from 2014-23: ($8,208)
  • Cumulative cost per family of 4 of state funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade from 2014-23: ($32,832)

State All Funds Budget Data

  • Estimated FY 2024 All Funds Budget ($ Billions): $82.34
  • FY 2025 All Funds Budget Limit ($ Billions): $86.76
  • FY 2025 All Funds Budget Limit Growth ($ Billions): 5.38%
  • Cost per person of all funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade in 2023 budget: 1,573
  • Cost per family of 4 of all funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade in 2023 budget: 6,291
  • Cumulative cost per person of all funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade from 2014-23: 1,694
  • Cumulative cost per family of 4 of all funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade from 2014-23: 6,775

Other Considerations