AUGUSTA ( AP) — The chief of the Maine Turnpike Authority says financial reforms at the agency have already saved millions of dollars with the potential for millions more.
Executive Director Peter Mills presented the agency’s 2013 budget to the Legislature’s Transportation Committee on Tuesday, outlining dramatic reductions in turnpike spending, with the budget dropping sharply from $41.8 million to $37.5 million.
The proposed savings include a $ 2.2 million decrease in employee salaries, including sharp cutbacks in state trooper overtime.
The agency also eliminated all outside lobbying services.
Mills says the agency is also in the process of refinancing its bond debt for a projected savings of $13 million over the life of the bonds.
The budget will go before the Transportation Committee on Thursday.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less