Education and defense would be among the biggest losers in Maine in automatic cuts to the federal budget set to take hold this week, according to a report that the White House issued Sunday as it seeks to avoid the impending economic fallout. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King have called on President Barack […]
budget
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage to let supplemental budget pass without his signature
AUGUSTA— Gov. Paul LePage will let the $153 million supplemental budget approved overwhelmingly by lawmakers Thursday become law without his signature, he said Friday. In a letter to legislators, LePage said he had “deep concerns” with the budget bill that landed on his desk and signaled that his administration might have to return to the […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Draft school subsidies show increase for Lewiston, Auburn
State school subsidies would increase in the Twin Cities, according to a draft document released the Maine Department of Education on Friday. State funding would increase from $18.6 million in the current fiscal year to $19.6 million in Auburn for the 2013-14 fiscal year. State funding would increase from $36.2 million to $38.6 million in […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Possible Defense Department cuts could affect nearly 7,000 Maine workers
Absent a decision by Congress to avoid the across-the-board budget cuts that could go into effect next week, roughly 6,800 workers in Maine who are civilian employees of the Department of Defense could be placed on unpaid leave. The Department of Defense on Wednesday notified Congress that if the congressionally mandated cuts, also known as […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine Legislature approves $153 million supplemental state budget
AUGUSTA — The Maine House and Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday in support of a $153 million plan designed to balance the state budget until June 30. The plan cuts $12.6 million from local school aid and fills a nearly $90 million budget hole in the state’s Medicaid program. The House voted 129-14 and the Senate […]
Posted inOur View
Refereeing the tug of war of spending
Members of Maine’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee have done it again. They have, and unanimously so, repaired a gaping hole in the state’s budget by passing a $153 million supplemental budget package. On Wednesday, just after the committee passed the budget, Sen. President Justin Alfond, D-Portland, issued a statement thankful “for the committee’s tireless […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Committee approves $153M plan to balance state budget
AUGUSTA — Members of the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee unanimously signed off on a $153 million supplemental budget package late Wednesday afternoon that fills a hole in the current year’s budget. Before casting the final vote to approve the budget package, the 13-member panel restored $1.75 million in cuts Gov. Paul LePage’s administration had proposed […]
Posted inMaine
Maine lawmakers look to close gap in budget
AUGUSTA — With the clock ticking, state lawmakers on the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee went back to work to close an estimated $118 million state budget gap Monday. Lawmakers are running out of time on the bill, which needs to balance the state’s budget for the current fiscal year, ending in June. So […]
Posted inFranklin, The Franklin Journal
Budget talks to begin in Livermore Falls
LIVERMORE FALLS — Selectmen will begin talks for a 2013-14 budget Tuesday, Feb. 19. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office. The Budget Committee has scheduled meetings for 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Feb. 12 and 26, and March 12 and 26 at the Town Office. Town Manager Kristal Flagg asked selectmen on […]
Posted inMaine
LePage opposes new taxes, but Democrats say they’re in the discussion
AUGUSTA — Leaders in the majority Democratic caucus of the state Legislature said Wednesday that new revenues and a “fair tax system” would be part of a “big conversation” they hope to have as they look to craft the state’s next two-year budget. That message came just a day after Republican Gov. Paul LePage implored […]