AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s $6.8 billion budget proposal was still being digested in the State House on Monday, but all signs were pointing toward the obvious: The Maine Legislature won’t let it pass the way it came. The LePage administration devoted much of Monday to briefing legislators on the budget, which was released late […]
budget
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Governor’s budget ‘challenging’ for Lisbon schools
LISBON — Gov. Paul LePage’s state budget plan released last Friday sparked many concerns among School Committee members Monday night. “There are a lot of unknowns and variables that are going to be challenging,” Superintendent Richard Green said. “The key component of this budget is that it reduces all of system administration, which for us […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage’s budget would cut income tax rate and state jobs
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s $6.8 billion, two-year state budget proposal, released Friday night, would reduce Maine’s state employee workforce by approximately 500 and shift Maine to a flat income tax by 2020. The budget proposal for the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years was released on Friday with little fanfare. The LePage administration posted it […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage set to unveil 2-year budget to Maine legislators
AUGUSTA (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage is set to unveil a budget that he says will reduce spending and cut taxes for the state’s highest earners. LePage has expressed deep concern about Maine voters’ approval of a new 3 percent surtax on the state’s highest earners to fund schools. In recent radio interviews, he […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Maine lawmakers prepare to tackle wide range of issues
Live updates: Maine legislators arrive in Augusta, face key issues AUGUSTA — Lawmakers gathering Wednesday for the first session of the 128th Legislature will face tough decisions on everything from the budget to the regulation of marijuana sales. But they’ll also weigh in on less-weighty matters. Near the top of the Senate’s agenda, for example, is […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
LePage fretting about sinking state revenues
AUGUSTA — State revenues are coming up short, Gov. Paul LePage said Thursday during a radio interview. LePage said money flowing into state coffers came “to a complete screech” during November and December and are expected to remain low for at least the next couple of months. “We don’t know if that’s a […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Androscoggin commissioners adopt budget with 6.44 percent increase
AUBURN — The Androscoggin County Commission completed its work for 2016 by adopting the 2017 county budget that will raise the county portion on residents’ property tax bills by 6.44 percent. The budget, which passed by a 5-1 vote Wednesday, included two changes to the recommendations made by the Budget Committee. Commissioners added $125,000 for […]
Posted inFranklin
Motion on employee raises fails to get vote
STRONG — A motion to raise salaries for five employees in 2017 failed to get a second at Tuesday night’s selectmen meeting. Chairman Jim Burrill suggested each get an increase of less than 3 percent or an additional fixed dollar amount. His motion did not receive the required second to bring it to a vote. The […]
Posted inFranklin
Franklin County approves $1 million unorganized territory budget
FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted 2-1 Monday night to approve a $1 million budget for the unorganized territory for 2017-18, county Clerk Julie Magoon said Tuesday. The spending package did not include $100,000 for a proposed sheriff’s deputy and cruiser dedicated to patrolling the unorganized territory. Commissioners Gary McGrane of Jay and Charles Webster […]
Posted inFranklin, Livermore Falls Advertiser
RSU 73 board looking to keep budget costs steady
LIVERMORE FALLS — With recent layoffs at Verso’s Androscoggin Mill, a tough budget process has become even more difficult for the Regional School Unit 73 board of directors. One of the biggest challenges is a projected loss of school subsidy of $233,000, Superintendent Kenneth Healey said at Thursday’s meeting. The reason for the loss of subsidy […]