Maine budget eliminates 219 jobs
1/9/09 | 20 comments
state house

Maine budget eliminates 219 jobs


By The Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. John Baldacci on Friday unveiled an historically austere two-year state budget that includes plenty of pain for everyone.

The $6.1 billion state spending package proposes deep cuts to address an $838 million shortfall due to the recession and increased cost of providing services. It would eliminate 219 state positions, requiring 139 layoffs, trim some state tax rebate programs, transfer many inmates to privately run prisons and reduce public funding of gubernatorial campaigns.

“We are in the midst of a national crisis, the likes of which have not been seen in a generation,” Baldacci said in remarks prepared for his State House presentation. “Our country is mired in a recession. We are all called upon to do our part to get through this difficult time.”

The spending package for the budget period starting July 1 is so tight its bottom line is $200 million smaller than the current $6.3 billion budget, Baldacci said. It's the first time that's happened at least since 1974, according to state records.

Despite the depth of the cuts, Baldacci said he took great care to protect core government functions such as police emergency services, and vulnerable populations including children, elderly and disabled. Much of the budget carries through reductions the governor has already proposed in a revision to the current year's spending package.

While calling for a 2.4 percent reduction in higher education funding, the budget leaves K-12 public school funding near its present level. It does not call for increases in sales or income taxes, but seeks $4.1 million from increased fees charged by the departments of Conservation, Marine Resources, and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Baldacci said there will be temptations to raise broad-based taxes, but this is not the time to do it because the economy is already putting Mainers under financial strain.

While continuing a state hiring freeze, it asks some state employees to pick up more of their health insurance. The budget factors in what Baldacci called conservative estimates of anticipated federal funding for MaineCare, Maine's Medicaid program.

No reduction is proposed in the ranks of state troopers, game wardens or Marine Patrol Officers. The budget seeks new money for childhood immunization and preparation for a possible pan flu epidemic, and maintains the Red Tide monitoring program.

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Comments
20 comments on this item
On 1/9/09 at 2:09 PM, Levite wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Maine House, Senate get raises, where's the justification...

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On 1/9/09 at 2:22 PM, gw2kpro wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

How's that going to be delivered? "Sorry, dudes, you're all out jobs, but we all got good raises. Now get packing."

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On 1/9/09 at 2:24 PM, Beelzebubba wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If we taxed all the weed smoked in Maine, we'd never have a deficit.

We all really wouldn't care, either.

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On 1/9/09 at 2:43 PM, Rogue_Wave wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Its ok Obama promised 250 million new jobs

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On 1/9/09 at 2:49 PM, mooseME wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

this makes me sick

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On 1/9/09 at 2:50 PM, Saltoria wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I think Maine should spend its way out of this problem. If it works for the nation, it should work for the state. We should all taek a lesson from Obama's stimulus plan in order to help the Maine economy. Spend, spend, spend..........that ought to fix it.

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On 1/9/09 at 2:59 PM, kateindfcity wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

“We are in the midst of a national crisis, the likes of which have not been seen in a generation,” Baldacci said in remarks prepared for his State House presentation. “Our country is mired in a recession. We are all called upon to do our part to get through this difficult time.”

Yeah, soo difficult for you, Mr. Baldacci. I'm sure the news of a raise made you SO sad. It's going to be so HARD for you to buy your egyptian cotton sheets instead of the regular ones.

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On 1/9/09 at 3:27 PM, boogyman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Baldacci only gets paid 75K a year, I'm no fan of Baldacci, but that ain't much. Most of his advisors make more than he does.

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On 1/9/09 at 3:32 PM, Downeaster09 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Come on people, did really expect anything change for the better. Baldacci was looking out for number one when he was a member of Congress, what ever gave you the idea he had changed?

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On 1/9/09 at 4:12 PM, garrisgammaw wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Is that all he makes? Holy shit!!! Its gotta be worth more than that. I would have thought he made more than that. Mabe he does need a raise.!!!!!!! Oh yeah, he gets a free house and utilities and all that though so thats good for another 30 K. He probably gets a car and definately gets a driver. I wonder if he gets to eat at Olive Garden for free? If he does i am jealous.

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On 1/9/09 at 4:16 PM, mainer64 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

u know i feel like we are in london england.. where the king and all his servant etc.. ' live high on the hog" but the peasants are dying of starvation and diseases and homelessness etc..." BUT STILL HAVE TO PAY TAXES" or b thrown in the dark damp torture chambers ...being eaten alive by rats !!!

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On 1/9/09 at 4:25 PM, mattecamp wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If the governor really wanted to help, he should reduce his salary to $1 per year. Just like the auto execs had to. His salary would probably cover 4-5 other lower salary positions.

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On 1/9/09 at 4:43 PM, Lorrie wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If people took care of their own, stopped trying to make everything "against the Law" , keep your self out of trouble we wouldn't need a fraction of the government that there is.

75k plus free transport, free phone, free postage, free housing, free medical,free food to name a few benefits and get most of the same for the rest of their lives come on boogyman that is a lot when most people are making under 30k with few if any benefits and if you have no children kiss a1/3 good bye and you can't even write off mortage interest, medical, schooling or donations to charity. So I gave up the charities.

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On 1/9/09 at 5:35 PM, madboy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Go to sleep sheep. Just go watch t.v.

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On 1/9/09 at 5:39 PM, Adelaide wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Increasing fees for Marine Fisheries Dept? Nothing like kicking someone when they are down!!!! As if fishermen aren't struggling as it is to make ends meet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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On 1/9/09 at 6:11 PM, SunandClouds wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

At least it's not a tax increase.

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On 1/9/09 at 7:34 PM, OutsideObserver wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Why do the Senators and Representatives have state issued license plates? They're paid a salary, they serve 1 term and they get full benefits of those that have worked for 30 years.

They'd certainly ought to be able to buy their own insurance and register their own vehicles. Probably they get mileage for the use of their own private vehicles too.

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On 1/9/09 at 8:17 PM, ilovebama_37129 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

How about eliminating a 220th job, that being the GOVERNORS....................

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On 1/9/09 at 9:28 PM, collins327 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

do I read this correctly ..........higher fees for fishing and hunting boating etc.....???? if so that a way to boost the economy! LMAO how many tourist are going to say no more...? and people like u and me ? this is our state and how much does it cost to hunt and fish now? lol he needs to go cook spaghetti in the family dive

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On 1/10/09 at 9:39 AM, JWBooth wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Only 139 pink slips? Baldacci's not even trying.

Bring back the ghost of Jim Longley. HE knew how to cut payroll. We've had nothing but wimps since then.

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