Gov. Mills signs supplemental budget into law

The Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee crafts the budget proposal to be sent to the full Legislature for consideration. (Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

This story may be updated.

Gov. Janet Mills on Monday signed the supplemental budget advanced by legislative Democrats last week after extensive late-night debate.

The budget includes funding for storm damage relief, as well as public safety and mental health initiatives, housing, education, health care, child protection, and the opioid epidemic, among other provisions.

The supplemental budget represents $127.4 million in appropriations and builds on the biennial budget signed in 2023, resulting in a $10.47 billion budget. 

“This budget makes vital investments in things Maine people need right now – like storm relief, mental health services, child care, housing, and much more,” said Mills. “It is the product of a lot of discussion and negotiation, and while we will need to keep a close eye on the budget next year in light of flattening revenues, this budget takes important steps forward to address our state’s most pressing problems.”

The budget includes provisions that both Mills and Democrats on the budget committee had originally proposed to cut. Mills’ initial proposal to roll back an expansion of the Medicare Savings Program as well as childcare subsidies was criticized at a public hearing on the draft. Afterwards, Democrats on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee advanced a budget the excluded support for dairy farmers and tax relief pensioners that was re-inserted into the budget after resistance from Republicans and Democrats.

Mills’ initial budget also included $107 million in savings that both Democrats and Republicans objected to. It is not clear if any of those savings remain in the signed proposal.

What is included?

Included in the budget is funding for two positions to create the Office of New Americans, which will focus on improving the coordination of existing organizations that support immigrants and collect more accurate and timely data about immigrant populations across the state. And after multiple calls from the public, including rallies at the State House, the supplemental budget allocates $18 million in one-time money for a rent relief pilot program. 

The Maine Department of Education will receive $25 million to implement its plan to improve Child Development Services, which includes $9 million to fund the transfer of oversight of educational plans for preschool-age children with disabilities from the agency to public schools. Funding to raise pay for education support staff, which now have a standardized minimum wage, has also been included.

The supplemental budget also includes $550,000 in start-up funding for a substance use disorder treatment center in Kennebec County and $4 million to expand Medication Assisted Treatment in county jails.

Sixty million dollars has been allocated to to help communities rebuild infrastructure and increase resiliency following the severe storms this winter. This includes$50 million through the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund and $10 million for small businesses through the Business Resilience and Recovery Fund.

A number of initiatives to address public safety following the Oct. 25 mass shooting in Lewiston also received funding. The budget includes $3.2 million to establish an Office of Violence Prevention at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention; $4.4 million to establish crisis receiving centers in Lewiston, Penobscot and Aroostook counties; and $5.3 million to strengthen mobile crisis response teams.

More details on what’s included in the supplemental budget can be found here.

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