Committee finalizes budget

The Appropriations Committee has finished their work, most of it with bipartisan support but with disagreements remaining between the Democrats and the Republicans, according to a press release from the Governor’s office late Thursday night.

The supplemental budget plan partially restored funding to the university and community college systems and Medicaid. The next stop is the full Legislature.

Gov. John Baldacci has issued the following statement:

“The budget work done by the Appropriations Committee is a significant accomplishment,” Governor Baldacci said. “We have worked through a $190 million revenue downturn without raising taxes or using money from our Budget Stabilization Fund.”

“I think we all recognized that the working men and women of Maine couldn’t afford to see their burdens increased. At the same time, we needed to balance our priorities and make sure that we take care of our neighbors.”

He added: “With this budget, we have brought State spending in line with our revenues, we’ve restructured government to make it smaller and more efficient, and we’ve taken major steps toward improving our financial position in future years.”