NEWS | Local perspective on state budget

Democrats say the narrowly approved budget reflects Maine values and will help working-class families; Republicans say the spending package is irresponsible and not sustainable

By RANDY SEAVER | Editor

Maine lawmakers last week approved a supplemental budget of more than $500 million for the next fiscal year.

Gov. Janet Mills signed the spending package — which includes $300 relief checks for many Mainers and a new tax on the state’s wealthiest residents – on Friday, April 10.

This year’s state budget debate proved to be controversial, narrowly passing in both the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine State Senate earlier in the week.

The Biddeford Gazette reached out to members of Biddeford’s legislative delegation and Republican State Rep. Wayne Parry of Arundel for their perspectives on the supplemental budget.

Democrats praised the new budget’s focus on helping working-class residents, while Republicans say the new budget reflects irresponsible spending that is not sustainable for taxpayers.

Budget highlights and a statement from the minority Maine Republican Party can be found below.

STATE SEN. HENRY INGWERSEN (D)

“Right now, in Washington, we’re watching decisions being made that ask working people to carry more of the load while giving more to those who already have the most,” Ingwersen said. “In Maine, we’re doing the opposite.”

Ingwersen said this budget is aimed at “protecting everything we hold dear as Maine people, and answers the concerns I’ve heard from my constituents.”

The new budget, Ingwersen said, lowers costs, invests in things that Maine people rely upon – such as child care, housing and health care — and makes sure “our economy actually works for the people who keep it running.”

“Our businesses and families need us to invest in child care, so we did,” Ingwersen said. “Our workforce needs us to invest in education, so we did. Maine people deserve to have investments that help them not just get by but truly thrive, especially in these uncertain times.”

STATE REP. RYAN FECTEAU (D)

Fecteau, of Biddeford, is currently serving his second consecutive term in the House and is also serving as Speaker of the House, a position he held previously during his service, representing a different district in his community.

“It’s often said budgets are a reflection of our values. Mainers from all over shared what they value and what a budget that reflects those values should look like.” Fecteau told the Gazette.

STATE REP. RYAN FECTEAU

Fecteau highlighted some portions of the budget, including pay increases for direct care workers, more affordable housing and assistance or those who have fallen behind their housing rent.

Fecteau also said the new budget will help lower electricity bills, provide new protections against federal cuts or pauses for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and LIHEAP (Low Income Heating Assistance Program) and will invest in students and teachers by making permanent free community college tuition and increasing teacher starting salaries to $50,000 per year.

“As Washington D.C. chaos causes pain at the pump and when ordering heating oil and sticker shock at the grocery store, Maine’s supplemental budget prioritizes working class Mainers,” Fecteau said.

Fecteau said this year’s supplemental budget strengthens programs that alleviate costs and funds them sustainably into the future by “finally asking the wealthiest Mainers to pay their fair share.”

“Democrats have heard Maine people, and we have fought for the things that will make a real difference for them. This is a budget that values Maine families, values Maine workers and values Maine communities,” Fecteau said.

“Democrats have heard Maine people,
and we have fought for the things
that will make a real difference for them”
— Speaker Ryan Fecteau

STATE REP MARC MALON (D)

Malon is currently serving his second term representing Dist. 133, which includes the western and mostly suburban section of Biddeford.

“I strongly support this budget,” Malon told the Gazette. “It provides short-term relief from rising costs for folks who need it the most, and positions the state in the long-term to meet Mainers’ needs in the face of the arbitrary cuts and chaos coming from the Trump administration in Washington.”

Malon said the budget expands property tax relief and protects working Mainers’ access to health care and food assistance while “Washington slashes them in order to pay for an expensive, unnecessary war and tax breaks for rich people.”

This year’s state budget invests in housing construction because economic prosperity is not possible in Maine if workers cannot afford to rent or own a home, Malon said, adding that the spending package also invests in child care and schools and necessary cost of living increases for direct care workers.

While some Republicans have sharply criticized the proposed $300 relief checks for lower wage earners as an election year stunt, Malon said those funds will the people who need it most.

“Mainers need relief to help cover some of the costs, which are rising due to the reckless and harmful decisions being made by the Trump Administration and their enablers,” he said.

Malon says the new budget asks the wealthiest Mainers to pay “a modest amount more in taxes, setting up a stable source of increased revenue which we will need in the face of global instability.” He said that approach has been successful in other states and will leave Maine’s budget stabilization fund “far better capitalized than it was when Republican Gov. Paul LePage left office in 2019.

“There is always more to do, and I will continue to fight for Biddeford residents and the people of Maine,” Malon said, adding that he hopes all of his colleagues will support LD 2226, a bill intended to bring “fairness and equity to a school funding formula which has unjustly left Biddeford and numerous other communities behind.”

“LD 2226 will ensure that Biddeford schools have the funds they need and will take pressure off of Biddeford property taxpayers,” Malon said.

STATE REP. WAYNE PARRY (R)

Wayne Parry is serving his third term representing the town of Arundel. He offered sharp criticism of this year’s budget.

“More than $270,000,000 million of surplus wasn’t enough new spending for Democrats in Augusta,” Parry said. “They also spent [approximately] $300 million out of the budget stabilization fund “

Parry continued blasting his Democrat counterparts, describing their spending as unrealistic and irresponsible.

“They also raised Maine’s top income tax rate to the third or fourth highest in America, I believe. This tax will hit small and medium businesses the hardest,” Parry said.

Parry points out that this biennial budget represents an increase of roughly $1.5 billion over the last biennial budget.

“This year’s increase is about the same as all eight years under [Republican] Gov Paul LePage,” Parry said. “While the General Fund budget has gone up around 40 percent over the last eight years, the highway fund budget has stayed relatively flat.”

Parry serves as a member of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee, and says Maine’s roads and bridges haven’t been a priority for Democrats.

“Now they [Democrats] are pushing the people borrow money for roads and bridges,” Parry said. “Democrats don’t seem to understand that people that have money can just leave, just like they have in California, New York and Massachusetts.

“If you can move to a state that doesn’t take around 10 percent of your income, wouldn’t you move if you can?

“I really hope the voters realize giving Democrats complete control of state government is really bad for Maine’s future. We’ll see in November,” he said, referencing the upcoming election for all members of the Maine House, Senate and the governor’s office.

“I really hope the voters realize giving
Democrats complete control of state
government is really bad for
Maine’s future. “
— Rep. Wayne Parry

BUDGET HIGLIGHTS (From State Sen. Ingwersen)

Includes a “Millionaires’ Tax,” which establishes a two percent surcharge on annual incomes over $1 million, a targeted approach designed to shift some of the tax burden of maintaining essential services from working families.

Delivers $11.4 million in direct property tax relief through the Property Tax Fairness Credit by increasing the maximum benefit.

Encourages workforce growth and retention across multiple sectors, including a 3.07% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for vital direct care workers, to strengthen Maine’s economy and meet employer demand

Increases minimum teacher salaries, improves school bus safety, maintains free community college, and supports policies to reduce distraction from cell phones in schools.

Invests in child care subsidies to clear waitlists, support providers, expand access to care, and ensure children in public pre-K programs are fed.

Provides direct relief payments of $300 to more than 514,000 Maine people, helping households cover everyday costs like groceries, heating, rent, and child care

Funds energy and heating assistance for Maine people in the face of continued volatility in energy prices..

Funds eviction prevention, housing creation, Maine Veterans’ Homes, and age-in-place programs across Maine. .

Allocates funding to ensure that Maine’s health and human services systems can meet federal requirements from H.R.1.

Expands access to affordable prescription drugs at rural pharmacies across our state.

Meets statutory obligations for public defense, supports court operations, civil legal aid and victim services, and includes funds needed for implementation of the red flag law approved by voters in November 2025.

Supports the Highway Fund to help maintain the state’s transportation infrastructure.

Addresses funding gaps in public lands programs and strengthens Maine’s natural resource economy.

LOCAL IMPACT | Rep. Ryan Fecteau

Biddeford stands to gain in this budget, Fecteau said, pointing out that there is an additional $2.7 million in General Purpose Aid (GPA) for education and $200,000 in immediate education bridge funding.

“As communities like ours wrestle with tough budgets, these additional resources will arrive at a crucial time,” Fecteau said. “The budget also invests in property tax relief by increasing the Property Tax Fairness Credit from $1,000 to $1.500.

MAINE REPUBLICAN PARTY STATEMENT

Go here to see a video of minority Republican reaction to the state budget