budget

Lisbon is one of roughly a half dozen school districts in the state starting the year without a new budget in place. The schools there will have to operate under last year's budget, which provides nearly half a million dollars less than what the district is seeking and was twice rejected by voters.

State lawmakers recently agreed to provide about $4 million in General Assistance reimbursement funds to municipalities around Maine for the next two years. But Mayor Mark Dion said the city is still waiting to hear how much Portland will receive.

Gov. Janet Mills $11.6 billion two-year spending plan includes a proposed tax increase on cigarettes and other tobacco products. The state tax would rise from $2 to $3 a pack, the first increase in 20 years.

Lawmakers are rushing to finalize work on revisions to the state's two-year budget before the Legislature is slated to adjourn mid-week.

Gov. Janet Mills has signed a budget bill that makes substantial additional investments in housing programs, child care and a new paid family and medical leave program.

Later this week, Democrats at the State House are expected to enact a $9.8 billion baseline budget on party line votes, rejecting Republicans' request that an income tax cut and a study of Maine welfare programs be included in a separate spending bill.

Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills will unveil her two-year budget proposal Wednesday, a spending plan that she says will continue initiatives she began during her first term.

While previously serving as governor, Republican Paul LePage made cuts to a state program that shares revenue with towns and cities. It's a policy that Democrats say forced municipalities to reduce services and raise property taxes — and they warn it could happen again if LePage is elected.

The state's biennial budget is moving out of committee and headed to the full Legislature. The Legislature's budget-writing committee has given the proposal bipartisan support.

Maine’s governor returns to discuss the latest on COVID-19 vaccination distribution, the state’s financial outlook, and the supplemental budget…