Maine Gov. Mills Signs Strong, Bipartisan Budget Achieving 55 Percent of Education Costs for First Time in Maine History
Governor
The budget, which is balanced, also fully restores revenue sharing with municipalities to five percent, provides a
The Governor was joined by Republican and Democratic legislative leadership and members of her
"This budget is an historic investment in the people of
"I've always said that we solve our greatest challenges when we get folks around a table and work together in good faith to come up with commonsense solutions. This historic, bipartisan budget reflects that. It fully restores revenue sharing to
"The success of this budget shows that when everyone has a seat at the table and bargains in good faith, the outcome can be very positive for the people of
"I couldn't be more proud of what this budget accomplishes for our constituents. It tackles issues that have been impacting
"In this budget,
In April,
This State's solid financial standing is the result of the responsible fiscal moves
Additionally, Moody's and
Highlights of the budget include:
Supporting Students, Teachers, and Schools:
* Makes historic investments in public education: The budget fulfills the state's commitment to
* Supports school capital improvement projects: The budget also adds
* Supports higher education: The budget invests in the
* Addresses student hunger: The budget makes
* Invests in
Delivering Property Tax Relief:
* Restores revenue sharing: The budget makes good on the State's commitment to our city, towns, and municipalities by fully investing in revenue sharing by the end of the biennium. This influx in funds to local municipalities will help stabilize property taxes by shifting the cost of essential services off of property taxpayers. The budget raises municipal revenue sharing from 3.75 percent to 4.5 percent in Fiscal Year 2022 and 5 percent in Fiscal Year 2023.
* Expands Property Tax Fairness Credit to 83,000 Mainers: The budget improved the Property Tax Fairness Credit, providing a one-time boost in the maximum benefit from
* Bolsters the Homestead Exemption Program: In the biennial budget passed by the Legislature in March, lawmakers expanded the Homestead Property Tax Exemption, allowing Mainers to take
Supporting Direct Care Workers, Seniors and Vulnerable Mainers:
* Funds preventative dental care: This budget will expand access to preventative dental care to an estimated 217,000 Mainers while saving the state in costly emergency room visits, cutting healthcare costs statewide.
* Supports senior living facilities: The budget includes critical funding to maintain emergency rate increases that support nursing facilities and the hardworking professionals who care for the residents.
* Supports all direct care workers: The budget raises MaineCare wage rates for direct care workers to 125 percent of minimum wage. Direct care workers provide quality, compassionate and personalized care to the residents in their care. Paying direct care workers a fair, living wage recognizes the importance of their work and will help attract and retain quality professionals to this vital field.
* Supports Mainers with intellectual disabilities: The budget funds a rate increase to ensure that Mainers with intellectual disabilities can access adequate services.
* Invests in treating substance use disorder: The budget funds community treatment options and provides rate increases for recovery support services.
Other Highlights:
* Provides hazard bonuses for working Mainers: The budget provides a one-time
* Preserves and protects
*
* Supports the work of the
* Exempts the sale of menstrual products from sales tax:
The budget complements the Governor's Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, her Administration's proposal for the use of American Rescue Plan Act funding.
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