Maine Senate sends education funding referendum to voters

AUGUSTA — A citizen initiative to establish a fund to support Maine’s financial obligations to K-12 education was sent to voters after a unanimous vote of the Maine Senate on Tuesday.

Sen. Rebecca Millet, D-Cape Elizabeth

Voters in 2004 approved an initiative that requires the State of Maine to cover 55 percent of the cost of public K-12 education. However, that initiative did not specify the funding mechanism for the state’s share of school costs, and state funding has never met the 55 percent threshold.

This year’s ballot question will ask voters whether to approve a 3 percent surcharge on household income over $200,000. This surcharge will be used to help Maine meet its obligations to its schools, students and teachers.

“For too long, schools have been short-funded,” said Sen. Rebecca Millett, the lead Senate Democrat on the Education Committee. “That has spurred difficult budget decisions and put pressure on local property taxes. Voters told us in 2004 that they expected better. Now, they’ll have an opportunity once again to reaffirm their demand that the state pay its bills.”

The citizen initiative will appear on the ballot in November’s election.

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