Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation President Michael Widmer recommended leaving the "rainy day" fund untouched next year. He also suggested that $160 million in anticipated federal Medicaid reimbursements and $300 million to be saved by restructuring some debt under Patrick's proposal be put back into reserves instead of spending it immediately.
By Michael Norton and Jim O’Sullivan, The Boston Herald / State House News Service
"We've got this huge structural deficit in fiscal 2012 even if the ballot questions aren't approved by the voters," Widmer said. "If they are, it's a $5 billion hole."
