The Maine Legislature last week approved the 2008-2009 state budget. Following is how local representatives voted.

Sen. Bill Diamond:

I voted in favor of the two-year budget which will fund state operations beginning on July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2009. I was very pleased that we had a strong bipartisan vote in both the House and Senate supporting this budget. Both Democrats and Republicans worked together to make this budget possible.

There are no major tax increases in this budget and it keeps the state under the required spending cap even though it includes a $256 million increase to public education K-12 as established by the voters three years ago. The budget keeps nearly 25 state agencies at a flat funding level and creates a commission to find even greater savings in state government over the next few years.

Consolidating Maine’s 290 school districts down to a maximum of 80 and thus providing a savings of $36.5 million was a major accomplishment in the budget. There will be many adjustments needed as this consolidation effort moves forward, but the end result will be more efficiencies and reduced administrative costs thus saving property tax dollars.

In summary, this budget illustrates that Republicans and Democrats can work together to get things done in the legislature and I’m pleased to see it happen.

Rep. Rich Cebra (Naples, Casco):

I voted for this budget for several reasons. One of my goals during this budget season was to encourage Republican members of the legislature to “hold the line” on the budget. That meant no new taxes and no tax increases.

One of the strongest voices for fiscal restraint on the Appropriations Committee is Rep. John Robinson of Raymond. He kept me informed throughout the whole process, he held the line, and deserves a lot of credit for all his work on Appropriations.

This budget increases less than the inflation rate. It is a whole lot better than the original budget the governor originally delivered to the legislature that included about $170 million in tax increases. This budget sends almost $250 million more back to local schools and it also has a small amount of DECREASE in the Maine care budget, the first time in a long time, and a first step in getting DHHS spending under control.

One other thing this budget includes is the creation of an efficiency commission that will begin to look into real efficiencies in state government, an idea that I have been supporting over the years.

This budget is not perfect, nor do I believe that it goes far enough in reigning in spending. We need to continue to fight for a smaller, more responsive state government, as well as real tax relief, but this budget is a step in the right direction, and we need as many of those as we can get.

Rep. Gary Plummer (Windham):

When I left Windham early on the morning of June 5th, I fully expected to vote against the proposed budget. I questioned whether we needed to spend $6.3 billion to operate the state for the next two years. Throughout the day on Tuesday I listened to discussion and presentations about the new budget. As the day turned into night, some of my concerns began to evaporate. The evening brought new compromises regarding the school consolidation piece of this budget.

This budget does represent an increase in spending over the previous two years. It does however reflect a reduction of about $135 million in the amount that was proposed in the Governor’s budget. I wish that we could have reduced this proposed spending even more, but as midnight came and went, it appeared that this was the best that we would be able to do in this Legislature. I would have preferred less spending, but the alternative of shutting down state government is not very appealing. In the end, I did vote for this budget.

Rep. John Robinson (Raymond):

As a member of the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs, I was closely involved in the budget negotiations and supported the final budget package. It balances the books without raising taxes, and enshrines structural changes in education and Medicaid to help relieve future budgets of unsustainable cost pressures.

The Governor’s request for a $136-million tax increase went by the wayside. We increased school funding by $248 million bringing the state share to the long-promised 55 percent. The budget includes $70 million for tax relief and reimbursement, primarily in the form of the Homestead Exemption and the “circuit breaker” program.

The budget also creates a State Government Efficiency Commission that will be charged with finding at least $10 million in savings by cutting down bureaucracy and reducing redundant administrative positions.

In broad numbers, the budget comes to $6.318 billion, a $468 million increase over the previous budget. $248 million of that increase is the money required to bring funding of public schools to 55 percent, as mandated by the voters in 2004. That leaves the non-education rise at $220 million, an increase of state spending of about 1.9 percent a year.

This is a responsible budget that raises no taxes on the people of Maine and puts us on a path to sustainability in the future. We must maintain tight control of spending and exercise fiscal discipline. If we do that over time, we can get to significant tax relief. This budget is a move in that direction.

Rep. Mark Bryant (Windham):

I voted to approve the FY08-FY09 budget because it promotes long-term fiscal stability by streamlining government overhead while maintaining services. It creates opportunity through high quality education at all levels and strategically invests in Maine’s small businesses.

This budget provides an additional $256 million for K-12 education and will reach 55 percent of statewide education funding by FY09, which the people voted for by referendum.

It allows 500 more students to enroll in the Community College System and reduces the tuition rate increase at the University of Maine System to less than 10 percent. The budget also accepts a reorganization of the Department of Education.

This budget provides additional funding for the Maine Downtown centers, Small Business Development Centers, and Pine Tree Zone Expansions. It invests $4 million in the Maine Technology Institute to assist cluster development for developing industries and expanding micro-businesses.

The health and safety of Maine people is also protected in this budget by maintaining a strong social safety net. It addresses critical needs for Maine’s long-term care, home-based care and nursing homes. The budget approves funding for the low-cost drugs for the elderly program.

There were many needs of Maine’s prisons system identified in the budget. Many female prisoners at the Windham Correctional Center will be transitioned to half-way homes to reduce overcrowding.

The $6.3 billion two-year budget was passed with strong bipartisan support in the House and Senate. It was approved because it balanced without raising taxes, and remains under the spending cap.

Rep. Gary Moore (Standish):

There is tremendous confusion in the “real” world, where the budget and tax debates and votes are being intermingled. The legislature has voted in a bi-partisan budget. The tax debate is ongoing. I support the 2008-2009 state budgets. I will not be supporting the tax bill.

The final regionalization of schools plan does not affect SAD 6. If it had, I would have voted against it. I was disgusted by the blackmail-like tactic used by the University of Maine trustees and administrators. An increase of $8.4 million for our public colleges and universities targets a reduction in tuition, which the trustees increased over 10 percent in the days prior to the vote. I submitted legislation to reduce tuition for Maine students; and will be pointedly reminding the trustees that their underhanded technique did not go unnoticed.

The final budget begins to limit state spending and does not increase taxes. My colleague, Rep. John Robinson worked diligently as a member of the Appropriations Committee to achieve these ends.