Maine Can Do Better Reacts to Proposed Supplemental Budget Changes

On March 3rd, Governor Baldacci announced changes to his proposed supplemental budget. While many news reports focused on the restoration of cuts, few focused on the $360 million cuts that still remain. After deep analysis of the supplemental budget changes, it’s clear to Maine Can Do Better that, despite the positive changes, filling the remaining budget gap with cuts alone is not the right answer for Maine. Here’s a response from Ben Dudley, spokesperson for Maine Can Do Better’s to proposed changes to the supplemental budget package….

“We’re heartened by the Governor’s proposed changes to the supplemental budget. They represent substantial restorations to programs vital to the public interest, such as funding for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, disability services, mental health crisis intervention and home-based services, k-12 and higher education, and municipal revenue sharing. Clearly Governor Baldacci heard the concerns of Maine citizens and we thank him for his efforts.

“Despite this progress, there’s still major hole in the state budget: $360 million. That’s equivalent to annual state & federal funding for the Maine Departments of Agriculture, Conservation, Economic Development, Marine Resources, The Secretary of State, The Community College System, The Maine Human Rights Commission, and the state court system combined. To make up that sizable shortfall, this budget still proposes a host of harmful cuts:

• $1.8 million cut to the Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled program;

• $45 million cut (including lost matching funds) to MaineCare, cutting access to health care, mental health services and programs for people with developmental disabilities.

• $3.7 million cut non-MaineCare mental health services;

• $500 thousand in cuts for community support programs, including family planning, domestic violence, homeless services and child abuse prevention programs.

• $82 million cut to municipalities in revenue sharing and education funding;

• $5.6 million cut to property tax circuit breaker program;

“The remaining cuts will have a real impact on Maine families and Maine’s economy as we work to rebound from this recession. Defunding programs that keep people healthy, prepare Maine’s workforce, support local communities, and preserve jobs in a difficult economy will only make things harder in the long run. Preventing problems from getting worse, and more costly, down the line will give Maine a leg up as we work toward economic recovery.

“Will Rogers said it best, ‘When you find yourself in a hole, quit digging.’ There are other options to resolving our budget problems. Instead of relying on cuts alone to close the gap, we urge state legislators and the Governor to take another positive step toward greater fiscal responsibility, one that fully considers the costs and benefits of a mix of revenues and spending cuts. It’s the only way to ensure a budget that best positions Maine for economic recovery and future prosperity.”