The FY 2018 budget cycle began on Wednesday, Jan. 25 with
Governor Charlie Baker filing his $40.5 billion budget proposal.
Governor Baker proposes funding the Trial Court at $646.8 million,
$2.7 million short of the Court's $649.5 million request. An
MBA-backed expansion of the Housing Court is also included in the
proposal.
The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) was funded
at $18,180,000--a $180,000 increase from FY2017 appropriations.
MLAC is seeking $23 million in funding for FY 2018 to address the
ever increasing need for legal services in Massachusetts.
The House will release and debate their version of the budget in
April with the Senate following in May.