BOSTON—Gov. Deval Patrick is planning to plug a $195 million spending gap with a mix of cuts, budget transfers and money from the state's rainy day fund.
Patrick said the gap was caused in part by more people using the state's MassHealth program and costs associated with the special U.S. Senate election.
He said federal reimbursements will cut the gap to $118 million.
To close the rest, Patrick is asking lawmakers approve $38 million in cuts, transfer $50 million in surplus money from the state's transportation fund to the general fund, and dip into the rainy day fund for another $30 million.
The cuts include shifting $3 million for bulletproof vests to the state's capital budget. Patrick said police will be able to purchase the same number of vests.
