Overview of State Spending

Comprehensive State Spending

When considering the Governor’s recommendation for the FY 2013 budget it is important to remember that the funding levels proposed do not encompass the entire Massachusetts state spending for next year. In fact, a meaningful amount of state spending every year is done “off-budget” or through fund sources that are not subject to the annual appropriations adopted by the Legislature. The spending that is done by the state from non-operating sources falls into three general categories:

The following charts show that the state operating budget makes up the largest portion of state spending in comparison to all funding sources in any given year. Yet over 30% of total state spending occurs from non-budgetary sources. In the financial statements following this discussion, only the operating budgeted fund revenues and expenditures are displayed. It is important to note that there are further resources that are annually available to the state and its agencies beyond those subject to the annual budgeting process.


Total FY 2011 Spending, dollars in millions.  Operating budget $30,636 67%.  Trust fund $8,873 19%.  Capital budget $3,150 7%.  Federal grants $3,111 7%.

Total FY 2012 Spending, dollars in millions.  Operating budget $31,374 68%.  Trust fund $8,516 19%.  Capital budget $3,378 7%.  Federal grants $2,673 6%.

Total FY 2013 Spending, dollars in millioins.  Operating budget $32,310 69%.  Trust fund $9,163 19%.  Capital budget $3,342 7%.  Federal grants $2,366 5%.