After my first pass through the 600 page document, overall I like what I see so far in this budget proposal.
It funds expanded access to healthcare and — deliberately over two years — adds over $180 million to a comprehensive scope of supports for public education from early childhood through college. And it does all this within the state’s current resources while leaving intact the budget reserves that are our insurance against a financial downturn. The proposal also results in a $10 million reduction in education-related property taxes and substantially increases municipal revenue sharing.
The legislature takes it from here. Through March, on the Appropriations Committee, we will be holding joint hearings on this budget proposal and welcome your testimony.
- Maine’s next 2-year budget focuses on funding education and Medicaid expansion – with no new taxes, Press Herald, 8 Feb 2019