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Budget Summary FY2015

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Department of Veterans' Services
Data Current as of:  10/17/2014





FISCAL YEAR 2015 BUDGET SUMMARY ($000)
ACCOUNT FY2015
Conference
FY2015
Vetoes
FY2015
Overrides
FY2015
GAA
Veterans' Services Administration and Operations 3,051 0 0 3,051
Veterans' Outreach Centers Including Homeless Shelters 3,029 0 0 3,029
Women Veterans' Outreach 78 0 0 78
Agawam and Winchendon Cemeteries Retained Revenue 740 0 0 740
Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes 250 0 0 250
Train Vets to Treat Vets 250 0 0 250
Assistance to Homeless Veterans 3,022 0 0 3,022
New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans 2,592 0 0 2,592
Veterans' Benefits 74,632 0 0 74,632
Agawam and Winchendon Veterans' Cemeteries 1,187 0 0 1,187
War Memorials 620 0 0 620
TOTAL    89,450 0 0 89,450

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account description amount
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES 91,233,334
Direct Appropriations
1410-0010 Veterans' Services Administration and Operations
For the operation of the department of veterans' services; provided further, that not less than $30,000 shall be expended for the Veterans' Oral History Project at the Morse Institute Library in Natick; provided, that not less than $85,000 shall be expended for the Canines for Combat Veterans program to train 3 assistance dogs for veterans; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for Heidrea for Heroes; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the Veterans' Memorial park located in the Roxbury section of the city of Boston; provided further, that not less than $90,000 shall be expended for support services for a transitional housing program for homeless veterans located in Chelsea, Massachusetts; and provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for Honor Flight New England; prior appropriation continued
3,051,269
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 who may have been exposed to agent orange and the families of such veterans; provided further, that not less than $300,000 shall be expended for the Springfield Partners for Community Action's Veterans First Program to provide comprehensive outreach services to Veterans in the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for Soldier On for the purpose of providing services to homeless veterans in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire County; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for Martha's Vineyard Community Services; provided further, that $50,000 shall be allocated to New England Veterans Liberty House; provided further, that centers shall provide services to veterans who were discharged after September 11, 2001 and the families of such veterans; and provided further, that veterans outreach centers shall receive a 5 per cent increase in funding over the funds received in fiscal year 2014
3,028,520
1410-0015 Women Veterans' Outreach
For the women veterans' outreach program
77,578
1410-0031 Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes
For the cost of establishing a memorial to honor Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes; provided, that funds shall be made available to the Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund, Inc. for programming, design, construction and maintenance; provided further, that nothing in this item shall prohibit the Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund, Inc. from raising private funds to promote the establishment of the memorial or encouraging the donation of private funds for the construction and maintenance of the memorial or for any other endeavor the organization so chooses
250,000
1410-0075 Train Vets to Treat Vets
For the purpose of the train vets to treat vets program; provided, that the department shall work in conjunction with the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, Inc. to administer a behavioral health career development program for returning veterans
250,000
1410-0250 Assistance to Homeless Veterans
For veterans' homelessness services, including the maintenance and operation of homeless shelters and transitional housing; provided, that not less than $220,000 shall be obligated for a contract with Soldier On shelter located in the town of Leeds; provided further, that the Turner House Living Center for Veterans shall receive not less than the amount received in fiscal year 2014; and provided further, that veteran homeless service centers shall receive a 5 per cent increase in funding over the funds received in fiscal year 2014
3,021,629
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 Center for Homeless Veterans located in the city of Boston; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended for an elevator providing safe access for the Women Veterans' living quarters
2,592,470
1410-0400 Veterans' Benefits
For reimbursements to 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 and for the payment of annuities to certain disabled veterans and the parents and un-remarried spouses of certain deceased veterans; provided, that annuity payments made under this item shall be made under sections 6A, 6B, and 6C of chapter 115 of the General Laws; provided further, 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, homeless shelter, or transitional housing facility shall be paid by the commonwealth to the several cities and towns; provided further, that under 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, 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; provided further, that training shall be provided annually and on an as needed basis to veterans' service organizations to provide information and education regarding the benefits available under said chapter 115 and all other benefits to which a veteran or a veteran's dependents may be entitled; 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 costs to the commonwealth and its municipalities; provided further, that veterans' agents shall complete applications authorized by the executive office under said chapter 118E for a veteran, surviving spouse, or dependent applying for medical assistance under said chapter 115; provided further, that the veterans' agent shall file the application for the veteran, surviving spouse, or dependent for assistance under said chapter 118E; provided further, that the executive office of health and human services shall act on all 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 under said chapter 118E with healthcare coverage under said chapter 115 if the secretary determines that supplemental coverage is necessary to afford the veteran, surviving spouse or dependent sufficient relief and support; provided further, that payments to, or on behalf of, a veteran, surviving spouse or dependent under said chapter 115 shall not be considered income for the purposes of determining eligibility under said chapter 118E; and provided further, that benefits awarded under section 6B of said chapter 115 shall be considered countable income
74,632,168
1410-0630 Agawam and Winchendon Veterans' Cemeteries
For the administration of the veterans' cemeteries in the towns of Agawam and Winchendon
1,186,700
1410-1616 War Memorials
For war memorials; provided, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in the city of Worcester; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended on the USS Massachusetts at Battleship Cove; provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended for maintenance services for the Korean War Memorial located in the Charlestown Navy Yard; provided further, that the department may expend funds for the Glory 54th Brigade; provided further, that not less than $185,000 shall be expended on the Citizen Soldier Memorial in the town of Spencer; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended on a September 11, 2001 Freedom 104th Air Wing F-15 Monument and Memorial; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended on war memorials selected by the secretary through a competitive grant process; provided further, that the secretary shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 3, 2015 detailing all grants awarded under this item and the method used to distribute grant funds; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended for restoration grants for Civil War Veterans' monuments, memorials and other significant sites across the commonwealth and for the preservation of Civil War related historic documents; and provided further, that not more than 10 per cent of the funds in this item shall be expended for the administration of Civil War sesquicentennial projects
620,000

account description amount
Retained Revenues
1410-0018 Agawam and Winchendon Cemeteries Retained Revenue
For the department of veterans' services, which may expend not more than $740,000 for the maintenance and operation of veterans' cemeteries in the towns of Agawam and Winchendon from revenue collected from fees, grants, gifts or other contributions to the cemeteries; provided, that up to $175,000 shall be expended for the maintenance and expansion of the columbarium walls at the veterans' cemetery in the city known as the town of Agawam; prior appropriation continued
740,000

account description amount
Federal Grant Spending 1,783,000
1410-0019 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing for Homeless Veterans
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, HUD_VASH Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing for Homeless Veterans
1,457,000
1410-0057 Veterans' Affairs Homeless Initiative
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, VA Housing First Program (SHARP)
326,000

account description amount