Update on the state budget

Posted: May 31, 2011 | Senator Gerzofsky
By Sen. Stan Gerzofsky
Read more at the Times Record.
Published:
Friday, May 27, 2011 3:13 PM EDT
Your Maine Legislature faces a $6.1 billion decision that will in some way affect every resident. This figure represents the total dollar amount in the governor’s proposed state budget.
Since the plan was introduced a few months ago, the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee has been virtually working non-stop on the proposal. This committee is responsible for dealing with the state’s finances and its members will be finalizing a budget bill for the consideration of the entire Legislature. Due to the Maine Constitution, the Legislature is required to enact a balanced state budget, unlike the federal government.

In an effort to get feedback on the proposed two-year financial plan, I recently hosted a public forum on the subject with the Senate chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Sen. Richard W. Rosen, R-Bucksport.

The event, which has become a tradition, is a chance to have an open dialogue between legislative officials who are responsible for the budget and interested citizens. It is also a very important opportunity for local elected and town officials who are dealing with their own municipal budget to learn about how the proposed state budget might affect their towns.

Legislative matters might happen at the State House in Augusta, but it’s the people back home that matter the most when I am at work in the Maine Legislature. This was a great opportunity for me to bring the business of Augusta to the people of the Brunswick region.

The governor’s proposed budget has been controversial in many areas — such as, changes to the pension and retirement plan for teachers and public state employees; elimination of funding for Maine Public Broadcasting Network; reduction in the allocation of revenue sharing for municipalities; increased funding for K-12 education; and cuts to various social service programs.

Because of the proposed budget’s direct impact to the cities and towns around the state, I also invited the local elected and town officials in Senate District 10 to attend the forum. It is important that our local leaders know how the state budget could affect the decisions they are making at the municipal level.

I would like to personally thank Sen. Richard Rosen for taking the time out of his busy schedule to participate in the public forum. Like me, Sen. Rosen values the feedback from the people we are elected to represent. As I have said before, it doesn’t matter if we are Democrat, Republican or Independent: When we deal with the state budget, our work and focus is for the people of Maine.

I appreciate the dialogue from those residents who attended the forum.

The Legislature has some tough decisions to make and the input is important to me. I always welcome feedback as the Legislature does its work. Feel free to e-mail me anytime at stan1340@aol.com or call me at home: (207) 373-1328. I also offer a legislative update through e-mail.

If interested, please go to 54.201.225.36 to sign up.

Sen. Stan Gerzofsky represents Maine Senate District 10, which covers Brunswick, Freeport, Harpswell and Pownal. He lives in Brunswick.