WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE FY27 BUDGET IN MASS.
Advocates at the State House for Creative Sector Day 2026. Photography by Steph Craig Studios.
Massachusetts is facing an extraordinarily challenging budget year going into FY27. Amidst rising costs and lost federal funding for critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and transportation, state budget architects in Massachusetts have many difficult choices to make as the state strives to maintain essential services for residents.
The creative sector and creative economy are crucial for maintaining strong communities, contribute necessary revenues for the state’s coffers, and provide the inspiration, stories, and hope that residents rely on to navigate periods of acute challenge.
In Massachusetts, we have state leaders who understand the value that arts, culture, and creativity provide because of a long legacy of arts advocates who have established strong partnerships with legislators and share their stories of impact. We are also fortunate to have the leadership of the Mass Cultural Council, who through their grantmaking, technical assistance, and advancement work, have strengthened the sector’s collaboration with state leaders.
SECTOR PRIORITIES IN THE FY27 STATE BUDGET
In January, the MASSCreative Action Network (MCAN) sent letters to House and Senate leadership with signed support from 546 creative workers, cultural organizations, and creative businesses urging them to include these priorities in their FY27 proposals:
$27,348,072 for the Mass Cultural Council’s annual operating and grantmaking budget (0640-0300)
$2 million increase for the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund, which supports the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and Regional Tourism Councils
$21,000,000 for the State Aid to Public Libraries Program (7000-9501)
$19,570,000 for the State Aid to Regional Libraries Program (7000-9401)
$2,114,514 for the operation of the Board of Library Commissioners (7000-9101)
$3,000,000 for the District Local Technical Assistance Fund (1599-0026)
MCAN also sent a thank you letter to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for proposing $27.35 million for the Mass Cultural Council in their H.2 Budget - an historic appropriation for the state arts agency.
On April 15th, the House Ways and Means Committee released their $63.3 billion budget (H.5500) and matched Gov. Healey’s H.2 by proposing $27.35 million for the Mass Cultural Council, a 5% increase to the agency’s operating and grantmaking budget.
The House Ways and Means Budget included other critical investments for the arts and cultural sector, not limited to $21 million for the State Aid to Public Libraries Program, $19.6 million for the State Aid to Regional Libraries Program, $2.05 million for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and $3 million for the District Local Technical Assistance Fund.
Advocates urged their state representatives to make the final House Budget even stronger on arts, culture and creativity by asking them to co-sponsor amendments #261 sponsored by Rep. Sally Kerans to increase the Board of Library Commissioner’s operating budget to $2.1 million, #543 sponsored by Reps. Mindy Domb and Sean Garballey to change references of “STEM” to ‘STEAM” in state law, and #710 sponsored by Rep. Sean Garballey to ensure the Massachusetts Poet Laureate receives a $25,000 stipend.
See who co-sponsored the priority amendments:
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Sponsored by Rep. Sally Kerans, co-sponsored by Rep. John Barrett, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. Joan Meschino, Rep. Patricia Duffy, Rep. Susannah Whipps, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. James Hawkins, Rep. Tram Nguyen, Rep. David Vieira, Rep. Paul McMurtry, Rep. Hannah Kane, Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Rep. Aaron Saunders, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, Rep. Bruce Ayers, Rep. Amy Mah Sangiolo, Rep. Michelle Ciccolo, Rep. Manny Cruz, Rep. Mike Connolly, Rep. Brian Ashe, Rep. Lisa Field, Rep. Michelle Badger, Rep. Kate Donaghue, Rep. David Rogers, Rep. Christine Barber, and Rep. Adrian Madaro
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Sponsored by Rep. Mindy Domb and Rep. Sean Garballey, co-sponsored by Rep. Steven Owens, Rep. John Barrett, Rep. David Paul Linsky, Rep. Amy Mah Sangiolo, Rep. Donald Wong, Rep. Patricia Duffy, Rep. Samantha Montaño, Rep. Thomas Moakley, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. Tara Hong, Rep. Steven Ouellette, Rep. Patrick Joseph Kearney, Rep. Paul McMurtry, Rep. Sally Kerans, Rep. Carmine Gentile, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Antonio Cabral, Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. David Vieira, Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, Rep. Bruce Ayers, Rep. Tackey Chan, Rep. Manny Cruz, Rep. Mike Connolly, Rep. Danillo Sena, Rep. Jessica Ann Giannino, Rep. Lisa Field, Rep. David LeBoeuf, Rep. David Rogers, Rep. John Lawn, Rep. Hannah Bowen, Rep. David Robertson, Rep. Christine Barber, Rep. James Arena-DeRosa, and Rep. Adrian Madaro
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Sponsored by Rep. Sean Garballey, co-sponsored by Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Rep. John Barrett, Rep. Amy Mah Sangiolo, Rep. Tara Hong, Rep. Kevin Honan, Rep. Paul McMurtry, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. Michael Kushmerek, Rep. Patricia Duffy, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, Rep. Bruce Ayers, Rep. Bud Williams, Rep. Manny Cruz, Rep. Mike Connolly, Rep. David Rogers, Rep. John Lawn, Rep. Adrian Madaro, and Rep. James Arciero
Ultimately, none of these amendments were adopted in the $63.4 billion FY27 budget that the House voted 149-9 to pass on April 29th. House Ways and Means’ proposed funding for the Mass Cultural Council, State Aid to Public Libraries Program, State Aid to Regional Libraries Program, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and District Local Technical Assistance Fund was retained in the final House Budget. Nine other amendments adding earmarks to the Mass Cultural Council’s line item were adopted, resulting in an additional $375,000 in funding on the agency’s line item.
The MASSCreative Action Network is grateful to Speaker Ron Mariano, House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Chair Sean Garballey, and our elected leaders in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for leading again as champions for arts, culture and creativity in Massachusetts.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The Senate Ways and Means Committee is expected to release their FY27 Budget the week of May 4th, after which state senators will file amendments for local earmarks, to adjust funding for state agencies, and to include outside policy sections. They will debate their budget the week of May 18th.
The MASSCreative Action Network will share updates about what’s included in the Senate Ways and Means Budget and ways to take action.
Learn more about the State Budgeting Process:
