BRUNSWICK

In light of a likely shutdown of the state government on Saturday, Gov. Paul LePage issued a memo to state employees on Wednesday providing some guidance on what would happen to them.

If a budget for the 2018-19 biennium is not approved by the end of the fiscal year, which is June 30, the Maine Emergency Management Act will require the governor to declare a state of civil emergency. The memo outlines the sequence of events that would occur should that happen.

Only emergency employees are allowed to continue working during the shutdown. Employees deemed emergency personnel will be required to work.

“I consider emergency services to be those that relate directly to ensuring the health and safety of Maine citizens and the protection of property from substantial damage,” said LePage.

Affected employees should be informed of their status during the shutdown by close of business Friday.

Although the memo does not outline which specific services or employees will remain active during a shutdown, the governor said in an interview Tuesday on WVOM that he would prioritize law enforcement and revenue-related employees. He also clarified that state parks would remain open due to concerns about vandalism.

Updates on the shutdown will be posted on the state government’s website and available through the Citizen Alert System.

As the shutdown looms, the governor and the Democrats continue to blame each other for the impending crisis.

“House Republicans are willing to negotiate and invest additional education funding, but the Democrats are still dug in,” said LePage. “Instead of voting on a budget to benefit the Maine people, Democrats are bowing to the demands of labor unions, radical activists at the Maine People’s Alliance and extremist environmental organizations. Democrats should have the courage to compromise in the best interest of the Maine taxpayers and residents who will foot the bill for the budget.”

Democrats in Augusta have fired back.

“Gov. LePage and Maine House GOP legislators have refused to come to the negotiation table with reasonable offers. They are so singularly focused on providing tax cuts to Maine’s wealthiest that they forgot something very important: the State House is the people’s house,” said Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett in a press release.

Bartlett also attacked the governor for leaving the state while negotiations are ongoing. LePage was in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday discussing energy issues.

“Gov. LePage has left our state for an energy-themed photo-op in Washington, D.C., abandoning negotiations on the verge of a government shutdown he pushed for,” said Bartlett. “Gov. LePage purposely spread misinformation about the education surtax, forced the resignation of the state budget director, and reintroduced policy demands that have previously failed — then skipped town. It is a complete abdication of responsibility and a breach of the public trust.”

nstrout@timsrecord.com