Gov. Maura Healey intends to make the hiring process tougher for some state jobs as revenues remain challenging eight months into the fiscal year, according to a spokesperson for the Executive Office of Administration and Finance.
This change means that all new hires, with some exceptions, will need individual approval starting Wednesday by the state’s budget office based on urgency and importance of positions, according to the Healey administration.
Tax collections in Massachusetts have consistently been lower than expected for more than half of fiscal year 2024, putting pressure on Beacon Hill budget writers who also face a nearly $1 billion annual cost for emergency shelters, prompting top Democrats to warn of additional challenges. top Democrats to warn of further challenges.
Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz said officials are not imposing a “hiring freeze” but are instead implementing “hiring controls within the executive branch for the remainder of the fiscal year as one method to responsibly manage spending over the next three months.”
“These hiring controls, while temporary, will help ensure that the administration can balance the budget at the end of the year and preserve critical funding for core programs and services,” Gorzkowicz stated Tuesday night.
The Boston Globe first reported the move, although it described it as a freeze.
It was not immediately clear how extensive the administration's more stringent hiring protocols will be. But the state’s budget office stated that certain positions such as direct care and public safety personnel will be exempt.
Seasonal positions, positions required by court order or settlement, returns from leave, and job offers made before April 3 “will also proceed,” according to the Executive Office of Administration and Finance.
Months of lower-than-expected revenues led Healey to reduce tax expectations by $1 billion for this fiscal year in January and reduce $375 million from the state budget. The decision to tighten hiring in state government indicates another step in the cost-saving approach that has been adopted on Beacon Hill this year.
Revenue figures for March are set to be released Wednesday and could provide more insight into why Healey decided to pause hiring. Fourth quarter revenues pose “significant risk” to budgeted revenues, state budget officials stated.
Healey is not considering further unilateral cuts to the fiscal year 2024 budget, according to the state’s budget office.
