As the Legislature takes up a $40 million supplemental budget, lawmakers should support this compromise to continue funding important programs and keep social service costs from being shifted to municipalities.

The package was unanimously approved by the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee Monday. House and Senate votes could come as early as Thursday.

We’re pleased to see the committee declined Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to end funding for MPBN as well as enact new tax cuts.

MPBN provides quality, educational programming for Mainers that is not being done by other networks and is not subject to the whims of advertisers. Programs like “Sesame Street” and “Barney & Friends” have helped generations of children learn their numbers, letters and life skills.

The Governor’s plan to cut general assistance funding for cities to 50 percent was also rejected by the committee. The revised proposal cuts the state allocation for general assistance from the current maximum of 90 percent to 85 percent, according to reports from the Associated Press.

The committee also dropped a 90-day limit on housing provided through general assistance and increased that limit to nine months.

As well, a study will be conducted of the state’s general assistance costs and how to control those expenditures in the future ”“ and help guide future budget decisions.

The committee took a level-headed approach by ordering a study rather than approving major cuts that could have devastating impacts.

While these changes will lessen the impact compared with the Governor’s proposal, Biddeford Health and Welfare Director Vicky Edgerly said Wednesday that she is still concerned about the city’s ”“ and state’s ”“ residents in need.

Last year’s supplemental budget imposed a 60-month lifetime limit for families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits. About 3,000 Maine households ”“ 122 families in Biddeford ”“ were to be impacted, but Edgerly said that policy was changed.

Now, although a lifetime limit is no longer in place, people who seek TANF benefits for longer than 60 months would have to apply for an extension every six months, according to John Martins, spokesman for Maine DHHS. He said the approval for extensions is based on specific conditions.

Edgerly says she’s still concerned about families on TANF and others on general assistance who may be impacted by reductions and limits. These changes may leave some without a place to call home, she said.

The Appropriations Committee did not consider $80 million in proposed cuts to Department of Health and Human Services programs. The committee is expected to take up those proposals in the coming weeks, and the Legislature would have to return from a break in order to vote on any proposal, according to AP.

Lawmakers need to keep the welfare of their constituents in mind as they consider this budget and the proposed cuts to DHHS services. Many people still feeling the effects of the recession and those who have seen their assistance shrink more and more rely on these funds to live. The study should shed more light on how and where funds are being spent and what impact future funding will have on Maine residents.

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Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.