FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners set Tuesday, Dec. 20, for a public hearing on a proposed $1 million budget to cover the unorganized territory in Franklin County from July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013. The hearing is scheduled for the next commission meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. at the commissioners office at the […]
budget
Posted inOp-Eds
Mary Mayhew: DHHS faces major structural changes
Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services is facing a significant budget shortfall once again. But this time, there is a new administration in place that will not shy away from making the structural changes that must be made to put the department on sound financial ground while protecting Maine’s most vulnerable citizens. It cannot […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Local agencies worried about planned cuts to DHHS budget
LEWISTON — As local agencies that aid the young, the elderly, the poor and the sick braced themselves Wednesday against deep cuts in state funding, they also issued a warning. Cut their funding and suffer higher costs later. “These are Draconian cuts,” said Catherine Ryder, executive director of Tri-County Mental Health Services. The cuts would […]
Posted inOur View
An evaluation of public benefits, private insurance
Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services is facing a $120 million deficit, a gaping and largely unanticipated financial hole that must be filled if taxpayers hope to avoid funding yet another supplemental budget for this agency. According to DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew, the agency is now going through a thorough review to restructure and […]
Posted inRiver Valley
Issues with sewer rates and road improvements discussed at selectmen meeting
DIXFIELD — Concerns over sewer rates and paving Porter Road were discussed at a selectmen’s meeting Monday night. Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky informed the board that the sewer department was in the red for $132,782. The board was told that $2,500 would be needed to pay to have sewer rates assessed and possibly increased to […]
Posted inOur View
DHHS must get a handle on budget shortfall
Mary Mayhew, commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, needs to get a grip on that department’s finances or Gov. Paul LePage needs to find someone who can. Mayhew told the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee last week that her department’s funding deficit had jumped by $50 million over the course of two weeks. […]
Posted inUncategorized
Creating a beautiful scene with lights: Safety first
Perhaps no holiday tradition is more visible than decorative lights. Whether on the house or on the tree in the front picture window, holiday lights help create a festive mood for all. While aesthetically appealing, holiday lighting displays can also be quite dangerous. Older lights or poorly planned lighting projects can quickly turn tragic. However, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
DHHS commissioner needs time to figure out why department is over budget
AUGUSTA, Maine — Changes likely are coming to Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services to address an expected budget shortfall, but the scope of those changes has lawmakers guessing. DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew briefed members of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee on Monday about her department’s expenses and revenues for the first quarter of fiscal […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage urges ‘bigger and bolder’ university system reforms
BANGOR, Maine — Governor Paul LePage continued his administration’s focus on public education as an economic driver with a terse letter to the University of Maine System Trustees calling for substantial reforms. The letter, which was addressed to Board Chairwoman M. Michelle Hood and distributed to the full board at its Sept. 19 meeting, applauded […]
Posted inConnections
Free budget basics workshop to be presented
LEWISTON — Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community will hold a free budgeting basics workshop. Participants will learn about the basic components for building a budget, including money tracking, goal setting, challenges, ways to reduce expenses and how understanding one’s overall financial situation can be helpful in creating a budget that works. The two-hour […]