Press Releases
Maine People’s Alliance Comment on Gov. Mills’ Proposed Biennial Budget
January 10, 2025
Maine People’s Alliance Public Policy Director Cate Blackford (she/her), has the following statement with respect to the release of Gov. Janet Mills’ proposed biennial budget:
“People in Maine live in all kinds of places – and whether you live on the coast, one of our state’s biggest cities or tiniest towns, most Mainers share a big priority: We want to take care of our families and communities and leave things better for the future.
That means taking a long view and staying strong in our commitment to making tangible changes that will improve Mainers’ daily lives, including (but not limited to!) addressing the housing crisis, making sure everyone can care for their health and families, and planning for the climate future. It does not mean reacting to revenue projections that are not highly unusual, by making short-sighted cuts that will hurt all of us in the long run.
Although the full budget has not yet been released, we’re relieved to see that the new proposed budget preserves programs including free community college, free school meals, 55% state funding for K-12 education, 5% revenue sharing, and Medicaid expansion.
We are however concerned about cuts that the Mills administration is proposing for Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services. While the details remain to be seen, Mills’ proposed cuts to SNAP food assistance for non-citizens, support for childcare providers, and Head Start will hurt Mainers who are already struggling. These cuts may mean less spending now, but they will have a significant impact on our ability to access essential services like childcare, and do not reflect Mainers’ values.
We also want to make sure people know that in spite of the alarmist rhetoric you might have heard, Maine has a lot of options to bring in more revenue – and make our tax system a lot fairer than it is now. We could increase revenue coming from the wealthiest Mainers, rich corporations, and income that comes from wealth (not work). We could end tax breaks for big businesses like the Dirigo Business Incentives Program, and we could pass policies that make property taxes fairer. It’s also worth mentioning that Maine’s Rainy Day fund is still at its legal maximum, should an emergency arise.
Our state budget is the place where we tell the real truth about what we, as Mainers, think is important. As we go forward in the process of finalizing this budget, let’s make sure we’re doing the thing that reflects our real values – not our fears.”
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Maine People’s Alliance (MPA) was founded in Lewiston in 1982 and has grown to be the largest community organization in Maine, and one of the largest in the country. MPA is a powerful grassroots network of more than 32,000 members who work together on issues that include but are not limited to climate change, toxics use reduction, health care access, affordable housing, racial justice, and immigrant rights.
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Contact: Nora Flaherty-Stanford, [email protected], (207) 370-8314