AUBURN — Peter Letourneau’s first act as mayor — should he be elected to the job — would be to step back a bit. “My order of business would be to tell our wonderful city staff that they don’t work for me; I work for them,” Letourneau said at a candidate forum Tuesday night in […]
revenue sharing
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Analysis: Why Maine mayors are lining up against LePage
AUGUSTA — Mayors from four Maine communities said Tuesday that Gov. Paul LePage’s efforts to force them to cut spending have created a standoffish relationship and that more progress could be made if LePage would collaborate instead of dominate. Furthermore, the mayors of Portland, Westbrook, Saco and Augusta said that LePage’s continuing assertion that taxpayer […]
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Posted inOp-Eds
Sen. John Patrick, Rep. Matt Peterson: Budget proposal leaves rural Maine behind
Since our very first days in the Legislature, we have worked to make sure rural Maine isn’t forgotten in Augusta. Every year has been a struggle, but this year is especially difficult now that the governor has proposed a budget that leaves behind those residents who don’t happen to live along the coastline. We have […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine mayors lobby for revenue sharing
AUGUSTA — A gathering of mayors from five Maine cities to detail their policy priorities morphed into a discussion about how Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to eliminate municipal revenue sharing denies municipalities’ place in the fabric of Maine tax policy. Mayors from Sanford, Portland, Augusta, Gardiner and Bangor said huge percentages of the state’s sales […]
Posted inLetters
B. Pelletier: Revenue sharing quandary
The question is: to share, or not to share. In my opinion, Gov. Paul LePage has the right idea of holding back revenue sharing. That being said, not all municipalities should be penalized. The smaller towns and cities — that ones that realize who pays the bills and cannot put any more burden on their […]
Posted inMaine
Maine municipal leaders push back on revenue sharing cuts
AUGUSTA — Municipal officials from across Maine say they can’t stretch their budgets any further and will have no choice but to raise property taxes, as they implored lawmakers Wednesday to defeat Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to eliminate state aid to cities and towns. The Republican governor, who as mayor of Waterville decried revenue sharing cuts, […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Peggy Rotundo: Keeping our promise to Maine’s cities and towns
Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature recently came together to honor the state’s funding promise to local communities. This bipartisan work paid off: the measure which I sponsored to preserve state funding for towns and cities and prevent property tax hikes is now law. When this vital funding for communities appeared to be at risk, […]
Posted inFranklin
Eustis voters OK $1M budget in 30 minutes
EUSTIS — It took half an hour for about 35 residents to approve a budget of $1 million at Saturday’s town meeting. “It was quick,” Selectman Jay Wyman said early Saturday evening. “Basically, everything went very well. Everything was approved and there was very little discussion.” The warrant included 22 articles, some of which increased […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage lets revenue sharing bill become law
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine legislation that prevents $40 million in cuts to state aid for cities and towns next year became law Wednesday after Gov. Paul LePage took no action on it, the Republican governor’s office said. The law takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns in April. The measure has been a […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
All eyes on LePage for $40 million revenue-sharing bill
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine House and Senate cast final votes Thursday to enact a measure to restore $40 million of state funding assistance to municipalities in 2015. The House voted 120-17 in favor of the measure. Shortly thereafter, the Senate passed the bill without a roll call. The bill now heads to Gov. Paul […]