March 24, 2008
Budget bill does not hike taxes
The state's appropriations committee late Thursday night approved a Democratic budget bill that fills the $190 million gap in the $6.3 billion biennial budget without increasing taxes.
The bill shaves $34 million from K-12 school funding, $65 million from Department of Health and Human Services funding, and $4 million from higher education, according to the State House News Service. The plan also includes cutting public financing for legislative candidates by 5% and eliminating the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, the Legislature's watchdog agency, and to give those duties to the Legislature's fiscal office, the Portland Press Herald reported.
The Baldacci-endorsed bill now moves to the state House and Senate, where it could be passed swiftly thanks to the Democratic majority, or face changes should opposition swell.
The bill shaves $34 million from K-12 school funding, $65 million from Department of Health and Human Services funding, and $4 million from higher education, according to the State House News Service. The plan also includes cutting public financing for legislative candidates by 5% and eliminating the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, the Legislature's watchdog agency, and to give those duties to the Legislature's fiscal office, the Portland Press Herald reported.
The Baldacci-endorsed bill now moves to the state House and Senate, where it could be passed swiftly thanks to the Democratic majority, or face changes should opposition swell.
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