WATERBORO — When Governor Paul LePage looks around Maine, he sees about 300 municipal public works directors.

He also sees many school superintendents ”“ too many, he said Monday night. He thinks Maine communities would save a bundle if they consolidated some of their efforts, and has proposed legislation that would provide money to help with some upfront costs to help communities regionalize.

The legislation didn’t pass the last time he proposed it, but he’s looking again for $10 million to help communities and schools pool their resources.

The problem with consolidation last time around, LePage said, when instituted by Gov. John Baldacci, is that is was forced.

“It didn’t work,” said LePage.

LePage brought his budget proposals and some long term goals ”“ like total elimination of the Maine income tax, to Waterboro Fire Station Monday night, when he spoke and took questions from an audience made up mostly of municipal officials associated with the 12”“Town Group as well as a handful of residents.

He arrived, shook a couple of hands on his way to a table set up in front of the audience and set about to explain his plan.

While the budget he’s proposed doesn’t eliminate the income tax ”“ a constitutional amendment would be required to accomplish that goal ”“ the budget does ratchet down the rate over time. His proposals increase and broaden the sales tax.

And he talked about revenue sharing ”“ a subject much on the minds of municipal managers and elected municipal officials these days.

Revenue sharing, established in the 1970s, has eroded in the last several years ”“ most recently by LePage and by Gov. John Baldacci before him. Under LePage’s budget proposal, revenue sharing continues in the first year ”“ but not the second year of the two-year spending plan.

LePage on Monday said it’s still there ”“ that it is just called something else.

“My plan doesn’t remove revenue sharing ”“ it’s there into perpetuity,” he said. “It’s called property tax fairness credit.” LePage said the credit will directly assist the poor and the elderly. His budget also calls for an increase in the Homestead exemption.

He would eliminate estate taxes and taxes on military pensions and will examine the gas tax.

He wants to keep young people in the state, and make it more financially attractive for retirees to stay or move here. And he wants to help young people with student loan debt.

He said Maine needs to examine its system of local, county and state roads.

In response to a question from Waterboro Selectman Jon Gale, who asked if LePage would accept his tax reform plan in small pieces, LePage said it is planned to be that way.

“You have to set the parameters on everything,” said LePage, acknowledging the first phase of his tax reform plan is a big jump. “I don’t care how they get there,” he said, referring to the Legislature. “I really don’t. It’s more important to pass a constitutional amendment (eliminating the income tax) than go for everything this year.”

Biddeford City Manager John Bubier called LePage’s plan to help communities pay upfront costs of consolidation intriguing. He said a proposal that had been floated to have one police chief and one fire chief for Biddeford and Saco would have saved $500,000, but the proposal got lost in politics.

Alfred selectman John Sylvester asked about the expansion of broadband.

LePage said he believes it needs to happen and will, though it may take longer in some of the state’s more far”“flung counties, but he added there’s no reason fast broadband can’t be instituted from Kittery to Augusta.

“It has to get done and it will get done. That’s going to be a summer project if we get our way with the budget if they don’t kill it,” LePage said.

Lyman Selectwoman Vicky Gavel asked about the law that mandates the state pay 55 percent of education costs and noted it has never been implemented.

LePage said the state is paying some local education costs not included with the Essential Programs and Services model, but said overall, the 55 percent figure is impossible to reach. He said if the state upped its contribution to 55 percent, superintendents would just increase their budgets.

There was applause during some of his remarks, and a standing ovation as he rose to leave.

“I applaud you for trying to do something different in our state and I thank you,” said Gavel, the Lyman selectwoman.

Following the meeting, Limerick Selectman Dean LePage (no relation to the governor) said there needs to be a bipartisan approach and called the governor’s budget plan ambitious. He said he doesn’t know how the state will make up the loss of income tax revenue through sales tax. He said any increase in the gas tax will impact both him and his wife ”“ they each have long commutes.

Alfred selectman George Donovan agreed on the need for bipartisanship.

He said he agrees with many of the governor’s points, but not necessarily how they’re expected to be implemented.  

“He got a standing ovation when he left, that says something,” Donovan said of LePage’s reception.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324”“4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282”“1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.