Baldacci releases new budget plan
Gov. John Baldacci today released the details of his plan to close a $569 million budget gap, including reduced funding for state departments and government shutdown days.
The plan will reduce General Fund spending for the 2010-2011 biennial budget from the $6.1 billion proposed in January to $5.8 billion, according to a press release from the governor's office. The plan includes increasing health insurance cost sharing for new state employees, 12 government shutdown days per year for 2010 and 2011, and the creation of a Commission to Recommend Streamlining of State Programs and Services. Funding cuts are also planning for K-12 and higher education and the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as other state programs. The plan also includes taking over $116 million from the state's reserve funds, and redirects federal stimulus funds originally slated to expand health coverage to laid-off workers and to invest in Health Info Net, Maine's electronic medical records database.
The budget plan aims to close a $129 million budget gap for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, and a $440 million gap for the 2010-2011 biennial budget, according to the release.
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