Maine governor ordering cutbacks

Submitted by The Associated Press on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 08:23

AUGUSTA  — With a $300-to-$400 million budget hole looming, Gov. John Baldacci is planning to order Maine state departments to curtail spending.

The governor is expected to issue his order this morning. It would restrict state government spending until the Legislature can modify the current two-year state budget to account for revenue shortfalls in the $300 million-to-$400 million range. The Legislature is scheduled to reconvene in January.

Meanwhile, a committee of state revenue officials and economists meets today to formalize the projected revenue shortfall.

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Ohio I think you got her

Submitted by Over taxed on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 20:03.

Ohio I think you got her figured ot. Busy but time to comment while at work. Info can be found at http://www.maineopengov.org/Payroll/PayrollSearch/tabid/63/Default.aspx 

0 )Administrative & Financial ServicesStatewide Service CenterRossi, Tammie LAccounting Associate I$31,117$0$22,108$53,2252008

It is quite apparent that the

Submitted by Billie Moore on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 15:54.

It is quite apparent that the only way state government is going to reduce spending is to finally realize that you cannot spend money you do not have. For years economic projections has been based on a rosy, the money will come in,  attitude. State government is way too big and if lean times are the way to get back to a smaller government, then I am all for it. The general populace is "soft", feeling it needs services to have false security. If you need a helping hand......... look at the end of your arm. 

 

Tammi:  I certainly hope you

Submitted by OHIO Dusty on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 09:58.

Tammi:  I certainly hope you are NOT sitting at a desk paid for by taxpayers putting your two cents into a discussion of how state funds are being wasted...that would certainly be ironic!!

The old argument of a 'public safety issue' does not cut it anymore - there are PLENTY of places left to cut - how about starting with inflated pensions, purposely inflated in the last three years of service to ENSURE a big pension??  Private sector employees don't have that benefit - it's time for the State to spend the taxpayers money more responsibly.

I think at this time,

Submitted by Tammie Rossi on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 09:10.

I think at this time, regardless of the promises of no new taxes, the time has come to raise the straight across the board sales tax by 1%.  This woud hit EVERYONE, not just a certain percentile of people. Most  State Departments have cut all they can.  Yes, there are exceptions, but for the most part there is just no place left to cut without outright cutting back customer services and creating a public safety issue.  I have heard rumors of making state workers take more furlough days.  What will that accomplish?  Less time to do the work that we can't get done now.  Less income, less income tax revenues.  Less money to spend in the local economy and tax sales.  On top of the fact that some state workes would then qualify for state assistance.  Unemployment is this state is at an all time high, and as we all know, Maine is slow to recover from the economy we are in right now.  Our legislators need to LISTEN for once and think before they leap into another mud puddle that will create another mudslide of  financial disaster!!!!!