BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts is set to close MCI-Concord, the state’s oldest prison for men, as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce the prison population. The closure of the medium security facility, which first opened in 1878, is expected to save the state approximately $16 million per year, according to Governor Maura Healey’s $58 billion budget plan unveiled on Wednesday. The decision to close the prison is attributed to the declining prison population, which is currently at its lowest point in 35 years.
State Senator Jamie Eldridge, the Democratic co-chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, explained that MCI-Concord is only operating at about half-capacity and would require extensive repairs if it were to remain open. The approximately 400 inmates currently housed there will be transferred to other prisons. Eldridge credited the decrease in inmates to the state’s efforts to reduce recidivism, including a 2018 law that decriminalized certain minor offenses and expanded provisions aimed at diverting individuals from the criminal justice system.
Governor Healey’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2025 includes various initiatives she outlined in her recent State of the Commonwealth speech. These include addressing the high cost of housing and childcare and positioning Massachusetts as a leader in climate innovation. The budget does not rely on new broad-based taxes and avoids tapping into the state’s rainy day fund. It represents a modest increase in spending of just under 3 percent, the smallest growth in five years.
The budget also allocates the anticipated $1.3 billion raised from the voter-approved “millionaire tax” to transportation and education programs. These include a universal school meals program and a low-income fare relief program for the greater Boston public transit system. Governor Healey also announced plans to guarantee that every 4-year-old in the state’s 26 former industrial “Gateway Cities” can access high-quality preschool programs at low or no cost by 2026. Additionally, the budget aims to help an additional 4,000 low- and moderate-income families afford childcare and out-of-school programs.
The budget release comes after Governor Healey announced $375 million in budget cuts for the current fiscal year due to slower-than-expected revenue. The state is also grappling with an influx of migrants, which has strained the homeless shelter system. To address this, Governor Healey’s family shelter plan includes utilizing $325 million from the fiscal year 2025 budget and accessing nearly $900 million from a surplus spending account to cover family shelter costs for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
While Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr acknowledged the need to address fiscal challenges, he cautioned against increased spending. He emphasized the importance of striking a balance between immediate needs and the long-term sustainability of critical programs.
The budget proposal also includes provisions for electronic bail payments and regulation of online or mobile lottery applications. The budget will now go to the Massachusetts House and Senate, where their own proposed budgets will be developed. The final budget will be a combined version of the two and will require Governor Healey’s signature and any potential vetoes.
In addition to the budget, Governor Healey is pushing a $4 billion housing plan to tackle the state’s housing problem and make affordable housing more accessible for residents.
As Massachusetts takes steps to address its prison population, close MCI-Concord prison, and allocate funds for various programs, the state aims to achieve fiscal stability and address pressing social issues.
