The Campaign for Addiction, Prevention Treatment and Recovery's Statement on Senate Ways and Means Committee Budget

May 19, 2010

In today's Ways & Means Committee budget, the State Senate demonstrated its commitment to preserving addiction prevention and treatment and services for more than 100,000 Massachusetts residents. Critical programs across the state, from youth intervention and residential treatment services to jail diversion and counseling programs, were funded at sufficient levels in the Senate spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year.

In addition, the Senate, like the House, created a separate Commonwealth Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Fund that will ensure proceeds from the retail tax on alcohol are dedicated to these services. We applaud Senate President Murray, Chairman Panagiotakos and the Committee for establishing the Fund and making clear their determination to protect alcohol tax revenues for worthwhile public health and safety services.

Until last year, alcohol sold in stores was exempt from the sales tax just like basic necessities such as food, clothing and prescription medications. The legislature rightly repealed that special tax break and used the proceeds to protect vital public health programs that promote treatment and recovery.

The alcohol retail sales tax, which will bring in $110 million in its first year, is a badly needed source of revenue that supports critically important programs. We appreciate the efforts of the Senate to preserve programs that have such a positive benefit for thousands of families across the state.