Governor Paul LePage addressed a mostly supportive crowd of 150 people at a town hall meeting on March 22 at Spire 29. The Governor covered a variety of topics before opening the floor to questions from the audience.

Aaron Chadbourne, GHS ’04 and a senior policy advisor to the Governor, asked LePage to hold a town hall meeting so residents in his hometown could hear him share his points firsthand.

LePage highlighted points from his tax reform plan, including the elimination of state income tax. “Money you earn should stay in your pocket,” he said. Expanding the sales tax to include a wider range of goods and services, along with reducing the tax burden for elders, was also discussed.

As for education funding, the Governor spoke about a pilot program that offers financial incentives to school districts that collaborate to share services and programs. Rolled out earlier this year, the pilot promotes efficiency and regionalization.

LePage believes that Maine’s educational structure is top-heavy, with more money used for administration than in the classroom. He said that Maine has 177,000 students and 147 superintendents, compared to Florida’s 3 million students and 64 superintendents.

Referring to a graph, LePage noted that state spending for schools has increased while student enrollment has declined. His preliminary budget reduces state funding for many districts, although Gorham may receive approximately $200,000 more than the previous year.

Of local interest, Gorham resident and land owner Hans Hansen asked LePage if he would support a proposed bill to build a 5-mile bypass connecting the turnpike with Route 114 south of Gorham. After a quick word of support, LePage continued to say that he would like to see the Maine Turnpike Authority merge with the Department of Transportation, ultimately eliminating all tolls in Maine except for Kittery.

While the Governor travels with a security team provided by the Maine State Police, after discussion with LePage’s security detail, Chief Daniel Jones made the decision to place two uniformed officers at Spire 29 to assure a smooth event, costing the town $386.