Appropriations Committee reaches bipartisan budget compromise

AUGUSTA — On Monday, the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee passed a bipartisan agreement on a supplemental budget proposal by a vote of 8 to 4.

The $18.2m proposal, supported by Democrats and Senate Republicans on the committee, funds core bipartisan priorities while allocating $45.5m to the Budget Stabilization Fund, also known as the ‘Rainy Day Fund’.

“With the divided Legislature, it would have been easy for both sides to retreat to their corners,” said Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond of Portland. “Instead, we came together to focus on common ground and critical needs for state government such as education, property tax relief and recruitment and retention of state workers in our prisons and hospitals. This is a bare-bones budget, but a good one.”

“Mainers expect us to get the job done, and that’s what the committee has achieved,” said Speaker of the House Mark Eves, D-North Berwick. “This supplemental budget is a true bipartisan compromise to fund good bills that will enable employers to recruit and keep qualified, skilled workers, prevent rising property taxes, and protect our seniors. I’m optimistic that lawmakers will honor their responsibilities to our state and unite behind this proposal which funds smart policies from both sides of the aisle.”

Democrats have consistently pushed for a supplemental budget to address significant needs across the state including strengthening Maine’s struggling workforce, addressing worsening conditions at Riverview Psychiatric Center, and combatting rising costs that could result in increased property taxes.

“Instead of succumbing to gridlock as intended by the governor, we’ve been successful in defining our shared priorities and funding them in a responsible way,” said Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, House Chair of Appropriations. “From nothing to something, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to honor our priorities for Maine’s families and address some of the serious needs facing our state.”

In light of Governor LePage’s continued refusal to submit a supplemental budget, Democratic members of the Appropriations committee launched negotiations early last week by bringing forward a starting list of bills widely supported by both parties.

The final $18.2 million proposal includes funds to strengthen recruitment and retention for law enforcement, direct care workers, and mental health providers. The proposal also encourages affordable secondary education, provides critical supports to key health care providers, and prevents increases in property taxes by funding county jails. In addition, the package contains $750,000 in funding for “Outstanding Remaining Bills” which can be used for other unaddressed bills.

“This budget is one that Maine people can be proud of,” said Sen. Linda Valentino, D-Saco, the lead Senate Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. “It represents bipartisan, good-faith negotiation to address critical needs while putting the overwhelming majority of surplus dollars to the state savings account. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for staying at the table and doing the hard work.”

House Republicans offered an amendment to the proposal Monday to put the entire projected surplus revenue into the rainy day fund, without addressing any of the urgent needs faced by the state.

The supplemental budget proposal will be contained in LD 1606, “An Act To Provide Funding to the Maine Budget Stabilization Fund” sponsored by Sen. James Hamper, R-Oxford, which originally deposited all of the projected $72m in projected surplus into the ‘Rainy Day’ fund.

The supplemental  budget will now move to the full Senate and House of Representatives for votes on Tuesday

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