Senator Courtney Applauds Passage of
State Budget
Funding Plan Represents Fiscal
Responsibility and Commitment to Maine’s Voters
In addition to avoiding those
new tax increase proposals, this budget begins to curb spending on government programs
such as Medicaid and taxpayer funded benefits, two programs that have been
dramatically increasing the size of previous budgets. In making strategic reforms to Medicaid, legislators
managed to rein in the cost of the program without removing a single person
from its rolls. The budget also includes
nearly $554 million in funding for
Of the total $6.3 billion,
$250 million goes to fulfilling the State’s obligation to fund 55 percent of
the costs of delivering education at the local level. This funding obligation is the result of a
2004 state-wide vote meant to alleviate the local property tax burden. Beyond the $250 million, spending in the
recently approved budget saw a modest increase of 3.7 percent. This increase remains less than the rate of inflation,
the benchmark often used to determine the increase in the cost of governing
Sen. Courtney was pleased
with the overwhelming vote in favor of the budget. “I think most legislators are impressed, if
not surprised, that we were able to avoid the tax increases and reduce spending
for certain costly government programs,” he said. “This budget does not increase the tax burden
Mainers face, makes strategic reforms to targeted areas of government, limits
state spending and sets the stage for a more affordable government in the
future. Now, we have proof that the
Legislature can fund government in a fiscally responsible way.”
Sen. Courtney represents
District 3, which includes Alfred, Limington, Lyman, Sanford/Springvale and
Waterboro. He can be reached in
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