The Bay State’s govt department hiring freeze went into impact on Tuesday, and the thought has bought one member of the State Senate questioning if the chilliness ought to unfold to different components of the state payroll.
In keeping with Senate Minority Chief Bruce Tarr, Gov. Maura Healey’s Might 14 announcement that she would take a “proactive step” to handle spending amidst unsure financial headwinds by stopping new hires simply goes to indicate how a lot prices might be lower by not splurging on new personnel.
“The governor has illustrated the impact of personal costs on the state budget by implementing a hiring freeze,” he advised the Herald.
Healey’s freeze, in keeping with the governor, got here in response to uncertainty popping out of Washington, D.C., the place President Donald Trump is waging a one-man commerce battle with many of the world whereas concurrently placing the states on discover that they received’t be getting promised federal funding.
“The people of Massachusetts expect us to protect and maximize their tax dollars, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Healey stated earlier this month. “Tariffs and funding cuts from Washington are causing so much economic damage and instability. We are taking this step to prepare for more uncertain economic times, protect taxpayer dollars, and move our state forward while ensuring funding will be available for the vital services people need.”
Her response, Tarr stated, begs the query of whether or not a hiring freeze might make a distinction elsewhere in state authorities.
“A serious question remains as to whether the quasi-public agencies will take similar action to control costs in the face of an uncertain future, and the costs that could be avoided by not filling open positions, many of which are highly compensated,” he stated.
Massachusetts maintains dozens of so-called quasi-public companies that are each a part of the state authorities and concurrently self-managing.
Amongst them are Massport, the Conference Heart Authority, the Hashish Management Fee, the state Ethics Fee, the Gaming Fee, the Massachusetts Water Sources Authority, the Comptroller’s and Inspector Normal’s places of work, and the POST Fee.
This isn’t the primary have a look at the companies that Tarr has taken this 12 months. When the State Senate handed their model of the fiscal 2026 spending plan final week, the price range invoice included an modification supplied by the Gloucester lawmaker which might require these companies to publicly disclose their salaries.
Among the companies already accomplish that, however Tarr’s proposal would require such disclosure from all quasi-public companies and would set up a dashboard the place individuals might see the place their tax {dollars} are going and think about audits of the companies.
“Quasi-public agencies perform public functions, and shouldn’t operate in the shadows. Their payroll information should be subject to public scrutiny, just as it is for every other public employee of the Commonwealth,” the Republican advised the Herald.
Healey’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to remark.
