AUGUSTA — Recent actions by State House Republicans could be a signal the power of firebrand Republican Gov. Paul LePage is waning as he heads toward the sixth month of his second term. Last week, Legislative Republican leaders split with LePage on his two-year state budget proposal, rejecting key LePage policy objectives around tax and […]
budget
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
SAD 52 voters approve budget
TURNER — Voters in School Administrative District 52 on Tuesday approved a $25.7 million budget for 2015-16. It’s $1.4 million more than this fiscal year. According to Superintendent Henry Aliberti, the tally in Leeds was 39 yes and 13 no; Turner, 53 yes and 13 no; Greene, 25 yes and 17 no. The budget, which […]
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Posted inFranklin
RSU 9 sends $32.25 million school budget to voters
FARMINGTON — Voters from 10 towns in Regional School Unit 9 will be asked June 1 to consider a proposed $32.25 million school budget for 2015-16. It represents a 3.9 percent, or $1.2 million increase from this fiscal year. About half of the increase is attributed to the special education program, Superintendent Tom Ward said […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
UMaine freezes tuition with $518 million budget
BANGOR — University of Maine System trustees approved a nearly $518 million budget on Monday morning, but had to balance it by dipping into reserves to the tune of $7 million in spite of recent cuts across the system. The budget also holds in-state tuition steady for the fourth consecutive year — the longest tuition […]
Posted inMaine
GOP plan offers $380 million in income tax relief; Democrats question how it will be paid for
AUGUSTA — Republican leaders in the Maine Legislature on Friday made official their proposal for the state’s next two-year budget that includes an income-tax cut they say will save Mainers $380 million. Parts of the proposal, first leaked Thursday, shows a plan that diverges significantly from what Republican Gov. Paul LePage had asked for in his […]
Posted inMaine
Exclusive: State House Republicans offer plan counter to LePage on state budget and taxes
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has promised he would campaign against any lawmaker who opposes his efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate the state’s income tax. But a tax-reform plan being offered by LePage’s Republican allies in the State House falls far short of the governor’s proposal, setting up the possibility that they will face […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage urges Machias audience to pressure legislators
MACHIAS — Gov. Paul LePage was warmly received at his town hall meeting at Rose Gaffney Elementary School on Wednesday night. As he was introduced, about half the crowd of 80 to 100 people stood and clapped. The audience laughed at his jokes and applauded occasionally as he spoke. “The roads in the urban areas […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Westbrook official: ‘If (LePage) goes to meet his maker it wouldn’t hurt my feelings’
SCARBOROUGH, Maine — At a public event in Scarborough on Tuesday night to discuss a tax reform plan being proposed by Democrats, Westbrook Town Councilor said if Republican Gov. Paul LePage died “it wouldn’t hurt my feelings one bit,” according to the Portland Press Herald. The newspaper reported that Emery later apologized for his remarks, but […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Analysis: Why Maine mayors are lining up against LePage
AUGUSTA — Mayors from four Maine communities said Tuesday that Gov. Paul LePage’s efforts to force them to cut spending have created a standoffish relationship and that more progress could be made if LePage would collaborate instead of dominate. Furthermore, the mayors of Portland, Westbrook, Saco and Augusta said that LePage’s continuing assertion that taxpayer […]
Posted inFranklin
Voters approve $5.63 million Jay budget, choose Bergeron as selectperson
JAY — Residents elected a new selectperson Tuesday and overwhelmingly approved all articles in the $5.63 million municipal budget for 2015-16. Pearl Cook lost her bid for re-election for a three-year term to former Selectperson Terry Bergeron by a 172-103 vote, Town Clerk Ronda Palmer said. Board of Selectpersons Chairman Steve McCourt was re-elected to […]