Baker suspends spending on ‘non-essential’ consultants, equipment

STATE HOUSE — The Baker administration on Friday ordered the immediate suspension of all state spending on "non-essential" goods and services in an array of categories, including outside consultants, leases and office equipment and computers. The directive is part of an effort to balance this year's $38.4 billion state budget in the face of underperforming tax revenues and with only two months remaining in the fiscal year.

STATE HOUSE — The Baker administration on Friday ordered the immediate suspension of all state spending on "non-essential" goods and services in an array of categories, including outside consultants, leases and office equipment and computers. The directive is part of an effort to balance this year's $38.4 billion state budget in the face of underperforming tax revenues and with only two months remaining in the fiscal year.…