The Mills administration recently unveiled its budget proposal for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year. The $10.3 billion two-year budget proposal focuses on a variety of sectors of the Maine workforce and economy. The following are a few highlights.
Strengthening Education:
$58 million to fully fund universal free meals, and $15 million to provide free community college to Maine high school students graduating in 2024 and 2025. It also calls for $10.5 million to expand Pre-K education, and $7.8 million to strengthen child care to ensure that caregivers are adequately compensated.
Combatting PFAS and Climate Change:
$3 million for climate-focused grants and programs as well as approximately $6 million in state and federal funds across multiple departments to detect and mitigate the impact of PFAS.
Improving The Health of Mainers:
The proposal calls for $16 million to continue extending Small Business Health Insurance Relief, nearly $15 million to improve the child welfare system, and $84 million in state ($27 million) and federal funds to support people with disabilities, among other programs.
Building Infrastructure:
$30 million to expand affordable rental housing options as well as $400 million for the Maine Department of Transportation to repair Maine’s multimodal infrastructure system.
Property Tax Relief:
$46 million to fund the law that stabilizes property taxes for individuals 65 years of age or older who have owned a homestead for at least 10 years. The proposal also calls for nearly $17 million to increase by three percent state reimbursement to municipalities under the Homestead Exemption, among other things.
“If we want to build a stronger, more prosperous state where opportunity is available to all, then we must invest in the infrastructure that supports our greatest asset: the people of Maine,” said Governor Janet Mills in a recent statement. “From education at every level, to stable housing, to our health care system, to our transportation system, this budget proposal aims to strengthen what Maine people rely on every day to succeed – all while not raising taxes, living within our means, and protecting us against the possibility of a recession.”
We applaud the Mills administration for continuing to invest in Maine people and for looking out for our economy in the process. We look forward to seeing the Legislature pass this proposed budget.
Learn more about the new budget proposal here.