Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker says the state is facing a whopping budget gap that’s far bigger than the previous administration estimated.
The administration of former Gov. Deval Patrick pegged the budget deficit at about $80 million. Baker estimates it's more like $765 million.
“Spending seems to be the primary issue here," Baker said. "Tax revenue is about where people thought it would be."
Baker says the biggest single chunk of the deficit comes from ongoing issues with managing the state’s Health Connector. When the health website crashed, the state put people on the Medicaid rolls without knowing how much of that cost the federal government would shoulder.
Baker promised he would not cut state aid to cities and towns to solve the problem. He says he’ll suggest possible solutions in the coming days.
