The Maine Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee made some major changes to the governor's supplemental budget over the weekend.
Legislators voted to shift approximately $60 million from the highway fund into the state's general fund early Saturday morning.
Maine Transportation Commissioner Bruce Van Note says the shift will impact nearly everything they do.
“If you have an upcoming highway and bridge project or you're interested in expansion of transit or enhanced transit funding, or you're looking for climate resiliency work that we might be able to apply for grants - all those things are now in play,” Van Note said.
The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) released their 3-year work plan in January, expected to cost over $4 billion. That plan is now in jeopardy and could see some shifts if they do end up losing roughly 60 million dollars from the highway budget.
A spokesperson for Maine Gov. Janet Mills said that the governor is concerned about the budget that the committee passed and urges them to reconsider their changes.
“The governor has significant concerns about the budget passed by the Appropriations Committee," Spokesman Ben Goodman said. "Including the reduction of assistance for dairy farmers, the rollback of pension improvements, the raiding of highway fund money, and the reallocation of much of the $107 million in savings needed for the next biennium.
"She urges the Legislature to reconsider these ill-advised changes, to avoid creating new programs that will require ongoing funding, and to advance a fiscally responsible budget that is sustainable in the long-term,” Goodman said.
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Source: WMTW.com
