BOSTON —
Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a $1.25 billion stopgap budget to keep state government operating while lawmakers complete work on a final spending plan for the 2012 fiscal year that begins Friday.
Patrick said the 10-day interim budget will keep critical government services operating. Those include health care payments for children, families, unemployed adults and the disabled, and cash assistance for low-income families and seniors.
The 10-day budget will also pay for emergency services including state police operations, and will help the state continue to make its debt payments
Patrick also said he was hopeful lawmakers were close to resolving their differences over the main budget.
A conference committee has been meeting to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the spending plan totaling about $30.5 billion. — AP
