Governor Janet Mills unveiled her Administration’s Part 2 budget for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2023 biennium, a proposal that makes a historic investment in Maine public schools and meets the State’s obligation to pay 55 percent of the cost of K-12 education for the first time in Maine’s history.
If approved by the Legislature, the achievement would come more than fifteen years after Maine voters first passed a referendum directing State government to pay 55 percent of local school costs. The Governor’s proposal would not only finally meet the State’s obligation for the first time ever, but would also increase desperately-needed resources for cash-strapped schools and hold down local property taxes.
In her budget proposal, Governor Mills also proposes funding a host of bipartisan priorities, including initiatives to improve the health of Maine people; tax relief for low- and middle-income Maine people; enhanced revenue sharing for municipalities; PFAS remediation; and infrastructure upgrades – all while adding money to the Budget Stabilization or “Rainy Day” Fund. The proposal, which is balanced and does not raise taxes, also leaves approximately $21 million in allocated funds for the “appropriations table”.
This proposal is presented as a “change package” that builds on the Governor’s original proposal for the FY 2022-2023 biennium. If approved, it would become the supplemental budget for FY 2022-2023. Taken in combination with the current services budget enacted earlier this year, the Governor’s proposals for FY 2022-2023 would result in a $8.77 billion budget for the biennium, which is $390 million lower than the RFC projects in General Fund revenue for FY 2024-2025.
Highlights Included:
- Education
- Improving the Health of Maine People
- Providing Economic Relief for Low- and Middle-Income Mainer’s
- Strengthening Maine’s Infrastructure & Partnerships
The Governor will also submit to the Legislature a proposal that balances the Highway Fund budget, which, when combined with anticipated Federal funds and bonding, maintains essential levels of service.
For the Governor’s full press release and details CLICK HERE
