AUGUSTA — With two weeks left in the 2011 legislative session, Republican and Democratic negotiators are still attempting to reach common ground on several politically charged issues that likely will dominate debate on the state budget. Lawmakers on the Legislature’s budget-writing committee estimate they have settled 80 to 85 percent of the items contained in […]
budget
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Public hearing Wednesday for Mechanic Falls’ budget
MECHANIC FALLS — With the traditional town meeting a thing of the past, Wednesday’s public hearing on the town budget takes on added significance. “This will be the first time in history that people will have an opportunity to adjust proposed numbers at a public meeting, either up or down,” Town Manager John Hawley said. […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage getting busier signing bills
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine lawmakers are sending Gov. Paul LePage increasingly heavy volumes of paperwork as the legislative session draws closer to its scheduled June adjournment, but high-profile issues that include the state budget and a tax overhaul wait to be resolved. On Wednesday, LePage signed 17 bills into law. Monday’s total was 18. […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Auburn makes headway on budget, trims $393,000 from tax levy
AUBURN — City Manager Glenn Aho’s controversial management restructuring survived budget cuts Monday as the City Council struggled to trim $393,000 from the fiscal year 2011-12 tax levy. Several councilors continued to voice skepticism about Aho’s budget forecasts and his plan for managing the city. Specifically, councilors targeted $50,000 in stipends paid to top managers. […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Councilors set special budget meeting Monday
AUBURN — With a $734,470 property tax levy increase possible, councilors will meet again Monday, May 23, to see if they can settle the fiscal year 2011-12 budget once and for all. Councilors on Monday voted down the proposed budget as it stands. It would have meant a 54-cent property tax rate increase and $77.47 […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston settles budget with 0.3 percent tax levy increase
LEWISTON — A newly approved budget will increase property taxes by $58 for the average homeowner. City councilors approved a $31.5 million spending plan Tuesday night. Combined with county expenses, debt service payments, School Department spending and debt, that sets the city’s budget at $95.2 million — a 1.06 percent spending increase compared to the […]
Posted inOur View
Auburn’s iPads deserve chance to prove worth
Anyone who doubts the potential for iPads to engage young minds in learning has probably not yet tried one. But even test-driving an iPad2 at the local Best Buy is unlikely to demonstrate the full learning potential of the light, slim computers. That’s why we hope the Auburn School Department can raise enough money — […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Auburn budget represents a compromise, according to school officials
AUBURN — School officials wouldn’t get everything they want in a proposed 2011-12 budget going to voters Tuesday — but some new programs would survive budget cuts. Tom Morrill, Auburn school superintendent, said the proposed $34.7 million education budget fully funds both a program to get middle school students out of the classroom and into […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine Democrats take aim at LePage’s budget proposal
AUGUSTA (AP) — The top Democrat on the Maine Legislature’s Appropriations Committee says Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed two-year budget largely fails to deliver on the governor’s promises. In the Democrats’ weekly radio address Saturday, Sen. Dawn Hill of York says LePage has promised to save money and create jobs, make government more accountable and protect […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage budget fix would cut welfare benefits, state jobs
AUGUSTA, Maine — The LePage administration’s latest budget proposals to eliminate MaineCare coverage for 28,000 people, cut welfare benefits for some families and slash hundreds of state government jobs is expected to draw sizable crowds to the State House on Wednesday. Unveiled last week, the package of budget alterations intended to plug a new, $164 […]