January 9, 2009
Baldacci introduces $6.1B budget
By Whit Richardson
Gov. John Baldacci unveiled a $6.1 billion, two-year budget this afternoon at a press conference.
In the state's fiscal year 2010-2011 budget, Maine must account for a revenue decline of $330 million. According to Baldacci, the state's fiscal year 2010-2011 budget is first since 1974 to be smaller than its predecessor. The fiscal year 2008-2009 biennial budget is $6.3 billion. Check out the budget overview (Warning: It is a big file).
Here's some highlights from the new biennial budget:
- State employees who make more than $50,000 per year will be required to pay a portion of insurance costs.
- The elimination of 219 positions, which will require 139 layoffs. The number of state employees will be at its lowest level since at least 1983, according to Baldacci.
- Temporary 10% reductions in tax rebate programs, including the "circuit breaker" program, the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement Program, the Maine Tree Growth Program and state-municipal revenue sharing.
- Increased fees in the departments of Marine Resources, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and Conservation to partially offset potential cuts in frontline law enforcement. Total fee increases in these areas will yield $4.1 million.
- The Department of Corrections will see a roughly $18 million increase in funding over 2008-2009. It will seek to transfer of 118 prisoners -- those with long sentences and few Maine ties -- out of state to cut corrections costs.
- K-12 education funding will be maintained at $959 million per year.
- Higher education funding will be reduced by about 2.4%.
DOWNLOAD PDFs
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments