State budget concerns shared with Sen. Hobbins

Posted: March 11, 2011 | Appropriations and Financial Affairs, Senator Hobbins

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Concerns over suggested cuts in Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed budget were aired by area residents at a public informational session Thursday night.

State Senate Democratic Leader Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, gave an overview of LePage’s proposed state budget for the next two years and answered questions about the budget, during a meeting at Old Orchard Beach High School. Hobbins will also hold another question and answer session on Saturday at Thornton Academy, Room 55 from 10 a.m. to noon and hopes to hold another session in the Buxton/Dayton area in the future.

The governor proposes to spend $6.1 billion over the next two years. The budget is about 8 percent higher than the last biennial budget, according to Hobbins.

“We have a significant problem in the state of Maine,” said Hobbins, in that the income does not match the demand for services. Any governor going into this budget would have to deal with this challenge, he said.

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