This is not the official budget document.

Budget Summary FY2009

Department of Veterans' Services
Data Current as of:  6/22/2009





FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET SUMMARY ($000)
ACCOUNT FY2009
Conference
FY2009
Vetoes
FY2009
Overrides
FY2009
GAA
FY2009
Total
Spending
Veterans' Services Administration and Pension Determination 2,339 0 0 2,339 2,250  
Veterans' Outreach Centers Including Homeless Shelters 2,390 0 0 2,390 2,390  
Women Veterans' Outreach 50 0 0 50 50  
Agawam and Winchendon Veterans' Cemeteries Fees and Grants Retained Revenue 300 0 0 300 313  
Veterans' Pension Determination and Revenue Recovery 98 0 0 98 98  
Assistance to Homeless Veterans 2,827 0 0 2,827 2,827  
New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans 2,278 0 0 2,278 2,278  
Annuities to Qualified Disabled Veterans, Gold Star Parents and Spouses 18,524 0 0 18,524 17,997  
Veterans' Benefits and Annuities to Disabled Veterans 20,904 0 0 20,904 22,889  
Agawam and Winchendon Veterans' Cemeteries 913 0 0 913 907  
TOTAL    50,624 0 0 50,624 51,999  

Hide line item language

account description amount
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES 51,998,806
Budgetary Direct Appropriations  
Direct Appropriations
1410-0010 Veterans' Services Administration and Pension Determination
For the operation of the department of veterans' services; provided, that the department may fund a housing specialist from this item; provided further, that the department may expend funds for the Glory 54th Brigade; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the purpose of maintaining the Massachusetts Vietnam veterans memorial located in the Green Hill park in Worcester; provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended for the Korean War memorial located in the Charlestown navy yard; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the World War II Memorial at Bell Rock Memorial Park in Malden; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be provided for reimbursing reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out the responsibilities of the special commission relative to the hidden wounds of war on Massachusetts service members established by chapter 1 of the resolves of 2008; provided further, that the secretary of veterans' affairs shall submit a report to the joint committee on veterans' and federal affairs and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than December 31, 2008, on the secretariat's implementation of and the outreach efforts of the "welcome home bill"; and provided further, that the report shall include the participation rates for service, hindrances to enrollment for the program, and recommendations, including any necessary statutory or other changes to increase the number of service men and women who apply for such service
2,249,578
1410-0012 Veterans' Outreach Centers Including Homeless Shelters
For services to veterans, including the maintenance and operation of outreach centers; provided, that the centers shall provide counseling to incarcerated veterans and to Vietnam era veterans and their families who may have been exposed to agent orange; provided further, that these centers shall also provide services to veterans who were discharged after September 11, 2001, and their families; provided further, that not less than $367,422 shall be obligated for a contract with the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center in the city of Gardner; provided further, not less than $228,771 shall be expended for the Veterans Benefits Clearing House in the Roxbury section of Boston; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be obligated for a contract with the Puerto Rican Veterans Association of Massachusetts, Inc., in the city of Springfield; provided further, that not less than $200,000 may be expended for outreach and counseling to newly-returned Massachusetts veterans in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for the Worcester Veterans Outreach Center; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for the Nathan Hale Foundation of Plymouth to assist veterans with transportation; provided further, that not less than $131,500 shall be obligated for a contract with Nam Vets Association of the Cape and Islands in the Hyannis section of the town of Barnstable; provided further, that not less than $106,102 shall be expended for the North Shore Veterans Counseling Center; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for veteran's services to be administered by the Cape Community Health Center of Cape Cod; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be obligated for a contract with the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center in the city of Haverhill; provided further, that not less than $100,000 be obligated for the Boston metropolitan area for a contract with the Puerto Rican Veterans Association of Massachusetts, Inc.; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to United Veterans of America for the purpose of providing services to homeless veterans in Berkshire County; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the Veterans Association of Bristol County in Fall River; provided further, that not less than $84,453 shall be obligated for a contract with the Metrowest/Metrosouth Outreach Center in the town of Framingham; provided further that not less than $70,000 shall be expended for the Mason Square Veterans Outreach Center in the city of Springfield; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the Middleborough Veteran Outreach Center; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers and the Colored Ladies; and provided further, that not less than $30,000 shall be expended for the oral history project at the Morse Institute Library in Natick
2,389,748
1410-0015 Women Veterans' Outreach
For the women veterans' outreach program
50,000
1410-0100 Veterans' Pension Determination and Revenue Recovery
For the revenue maximization project of the executive office of elder affairs to identify individuals eligible for veterans' pensions who are currently receiving home health care services
98,000
1410-0250 Assistance to Homeless Veterans
For homelessness services; provided, that not less than $652,395 shall be obligated for a contract with the Southeastern Massachusetts Veterans Housing Program, Inc., in the city of New Bedford; provided further, that not less than $625,105 shall be obligated for a contract with the central Massachusetts Shelter for Homeless Veterans in the city of Worcester; provided further, that not less than $405,500 shall be obligated for contracts with the Veteran Homestead in the city of Leominster and the Veteran Homestead in the town of Fitchburg; provided further, that not less than $220,000 shall be obligated for a contract with the United Veterans of America shelter in the town of Leeds; provided further, that not less than $199,405 shall be obligated for a contract with Unity House in the city of Gardner; provided further, that not less than $190,000 shall be expended for a contract with Habitat P.L.U.S. in the city of Lynn; provided further, that not less than $100,350 shall be expended for the Veterans Benefits Clearing House in the Dorchester section of Boston; provided further, that not less than $80,000 shall be obligated for a contract with the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center in the city of Haverhill for homelessness services; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for a contract with the Springfield Bilingual Veterans Outreach Center for the operation and maintenance of a homeless veterans transition house located in the city of Springfield; provided further, that not less than $73,350 shall be expended under contract for the Veterans Benefits Clearing House in the Roxbury section of Boston; provided further, that not less than $51,975 shall be expended for a contract with the Springfield Bilingual Veterans Outreach Center for the operation and maintenance of homeless veterans transitional housing units at the YMCA of Springfield; provided further, that not less than $42,000 shall be obligated for a contract with the Turner House located in the town of Williamstown; provided further, that not less than $37,350 shall be obligated for a contract with the Homestead in the town of Hyannis; and provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for transitional services at Our Neighbor's Table in Amesbury
2,827,430
1410-0251 New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans
For the maintenance and operation of homeless shelters and transitional housing for veterans at the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans located in the city of Boston
2,278,466
1410-0300 Annuities to Qualified Disabled Veterans, Gold Star Parents and Spouses
For the payment of annuities to certain disabled veterans and the parents and un-remarried spouses of certain deceased veterans; provided, that the payments shall be made pursuant to section 6B of chapter 115 of the General Laws; provided further, that the department shall take reasonable steps to terminate payments upon the death of a recipient; provided further, that the department shall prorate annuity payments to ensure that the total payments in fiscal year 2009 shall not exceed the amount appropriated herein; and provided further, that the secretary of veterans' services shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means a report detailing the number of applications received for annuities offered under this program at the end of each fiscal quarter
17,996,714
1410-0400 Veterans' Benefits and Annuities to Disabled Veterans
For reimbursing cities and towns for money paid for veterans' benefits and for payments to certain veterans under section 6 of chapter 115 of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 100 per cent of the amounts of veterans' benefits paid by cities and towns to residents of a soldiers' home shall be paid by the commonwealth to the several cities and towns; provided further, that pursuant to section 9 of said chapter 115, the department shall reimburse cities and towns for the cost of United States flags placed on the graves of veterans on Memorial Day; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary of veterans' services shall continue a training program for veterans' agents and directors of veterans' services in cities and towns; provided further, that the department of veterans' services shall provide such training in several locations across the commonwealth including, but not limited to, providing training programs at the Massachusetts Veterans' Service Officers Association statewide training conferences; provided further, that the purpose of the training program shall be to maximize federal assistance available for veterans and to assure that the agents and directors receive uniform instruction on providing veterans and dependents with advice relative to procurement of state, federal and local benefits to which they are entitled, including employment, education, health care, retirement and other veterans' benefits; provided further, that the subject matter of the training program shall include benefits available under said chapter 115 and alternative resources, including those which are partially or wholly subsidized by the federal government, such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability benefits, as well as federal pension and compensation entitlements; provided further, that the secretary shall promulgate regulations for the training program; provided further, that upon successful participation by the veterans' agents or directors of veterans' services in the training program, the costs of the training program incurred by the several cities and towns shall be reimbursed by the commonwealth on or before November 10 following the fiscal year in which the costs were paid; provided further, that any person applying for veterans' benefits to pay for services available under chapter 118E of the General Laws, shall also apply for medical assistance under said chapter 118E to minimize cost of the commonwealth and its municipalities; provided further, that veterans' agents shall complete applications authorized by the executive office under said chapter 118E for any veteran, widow and dependent applying for medical assistance under said chapter 115; provided further, that the veterans' agent shall file the application for the veteran or dependent for assistance under said chapter 118E; provided further, that the executive office shall act on all said chapter 118E applications and advise the applicant and the veterans' agent of the applicant's eligibility for said chapter 118E healthcare; provided further, that the veterans' agent shall advise the applicant of the right to assistance for medical benefits under said chapter 115 pending approval of the application for assistance under said chapter 118E by the executive office; provided further, that the secretary may supplement healthcare pursuant to said chapter 118E with healthcare coverage under said chapter 115 if he determines that supplemental coverage is necessary to afford the veteran or dependent sufficient relief and support; provided further, that payments to or on behalf of a veteran or dependent pursuant to said chapter 115 shall not be considered income for the purposes of determining eligibility under said chapter 118E; and provided further, that benefits awarded pursuant to section 6B of said chapter 115 shall be considered countable income
22,889,000
1410-0630 Agawam and Winchendon Veterans' Cemeteries
For the administration of the veterans' cemeteries in the towns of Agawam and Winchendon
906,874

account description amount
Retained Revenues
1410-0018 Agawam and Winchendon Veterans' Cemeteries Fees and Grants Retained Revenue
The department may expend not more than $300,000 for the maintenance and operation of Agawam and Winchendon veterans' cemeteries from revenue collected from fees, grants, gifts or other contributions to the cemeteries; prior appropriations continued
312,996

account description amount
Federal Grant Spending 200,000
1410-0254 Homeless Veterans' Reintegration, Training and Placement - Statewide
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Urban Homeless Veterans Reintegration
200,000

account description amount
Trust and Other Spending 300,000
1410-0255 Homeless Veterans' Reintegration, Training, and Placement - Urban 300,000