A budget that invests in Maine people

By Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine

To keep Maine competitive and to create a skilled workforce and to build a diverse economy that attracts new businesses and provides good paying jobs, we have got to invest in our people and in our public education system.

We know that education opens doors of opportunity, which is why in 2022, with the support of the Legislature, we made community college free for recent high school grads. The Free Community College Program has made a life changing difference for thousands of Maine young people. More than 23,000 students have taken advantage of this Free Community College program to date, with many more scheduled to achieve a degree or certificate over the next two years.

You know, in addition, we have one of the most generous student loan tax credits in the country. For those who have student loans, we give you a full tax credit of up to $2,500 a year for paying those loans and paying taxes in the State of Maine.

Well, as part of my budget proposal this year, I asked the legislature to make community college free in Maine permanently. Lawmakers agreed, and last week I was proud to sign that budget into law and finally make Free Community College permanent.

One of the biggest obstacles for Maine people today, whether you’re a college student or a young parent or an older person on fixed income, is the high cost of living right now. On top of making free community college permanent, this budget also provides immediate and long term cost relief to Maine people.

It does so by doing the following:

First, it sends $300 checks back to 514,000 people to help offset, in some small way, the cost of gas, goods and groceries that are increasing every day because of tariffs, and because of the war in Iran, and so many other circumstances that are just beyond our state’s control.

The budget increases funding for our already successful housing programs, creating 500 new affordable homes for families all across Maine.

And the budget maintains the state’s obligation to pay 55% of local education costs to help hold down property tax increases.

The budget also protects affordable health care and reproductive health care, and it maintains our commitment to help seniors with prescription drug costs, and the budget provides funds for the Maine Veterans Homes, and it increases property tax relief for Maine people.

The budget also includes ongoing funding to track forensic sexual assault examination kits, which we’ve been working on for three years now with federal money, as well as permanent funding to protect domestic violence and sexual assault services.

This budget gives money directly back to the people of Maine. It builds on my administration’s historic investments in housing. It makes free community college permanent. It delivers enhanced property tax relief and delivers more funds for child care. And importantly, it preserves critical funding for schools and health care.

My guiding belief as governor has always been that our strongest asset is you, the people of Maine. And that’s why this budget, like those in the past, invests in you and supports you and your families.

As always, it is a great privilege to serve as your governor.