Senator Sherman Votes ‘No’ on Government Spending Plan

Education Proposal, Massive Spending Increase Reasons for Opposition

AUGUSTA – Senator Roger Sherman, of Hodgdon, joined six other Republican Senators in opposing the state budget proposal late Wednesday night. Sherman cites an irrational and harmful education consolidation plan and considerable increases in state spending as the primary reasons for his opposition.

For months, the bipartisan Rural Caucus, of which Sen. Sherman serves as Vice-Chair, had been intimately involved in the education issue. The group had been analyzing all proposals brought forth to determine how detrimental each would be on Maine’s rural communities. Among the concerns Sherman identified with the final plan included in the budget was an unrealistic timeline for districts to regionalize and implement a cost-savings plan, the erosion of local involvement in education delivery, and uncertain savings expected from state-wide regionalization.

“I joined a group of legislators opposing these types of haphazard plans from the beginning, and was even part of an effort to offer principles and suggestions that a successful education consolidation plan should respect,” Sen. Sherman explained. “Although changes were made that attempted to address the concerns of rural legislators, the end product wasn’t something I could support.”

Huge spending increases compared to the previous budget were another point of contention for Sen. Sherman. The newly approved budget, totaling $6.3 billion in general fund spending, reflects a ½ billion dollar increase from the last budget approved during the 122 Legislature.

“Mainers tell us over and over that they want to see Augusta reduce government spending,” Sherman said. “I don’t see how a half billion dollar increase in spending achieves what the people expected and demanded from legislators. This budget does not reflect the fiscal responsibility our state requires to provide Mainers with actual relief. I stand by my vote against this budget because my commitment to education quality, local control and responsible government spending would have been compromised if I didn’t.”

Sen. Sherman represents District 34, which encompasses southern and central Aroostook County, including Fort Fairfield, Houlton and Presque Isle. He can be reached in Augusta at 287-1505, in Hodgdon at 532-7073, or by e-mail at rsherm_2000@yahoo.com.

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