Towns and cities across our state deserve stability, predictability and good governance. The continuing services state budget that Maine Democrats passed last month provides just that. It contains no new initiatives but ensures that, come the end of the current biennial budget period on June 30, there will be money available to keep essential services like public schools, Emergency Medical Services and long-term care facilities running smoothly. In particular, this budget delivers on our promises to our municipalities that rely on state funding for their own financial planning purposes by continuing the state’s homestead property tax reimbursement to towns, meeting the state’s 5% revenue sharing obligation and funding 55% of public K-12 education costs. Fulfilling our commitments and continuing to fund the essential programs that Mainers depend on was a top priority for us this session. In this budget, we allocated $212 million to fund the Homestead Property Tax Reimbursement Program, ensuring that cities and towns can continue to offer that property tax relief to qualifying residents. If the state were to stop providing this reimbursement, municipalities that are now only responsible for covering less than one-third of the programs costs would have to foot the entire bill, an expense that would force many to raise their mill rates, and subsequently, property taxes for all homeowners. Through this budget, we also kept our promise to share 5% of state revenue with municipalities. In 2022, we met our revenue sharing obligation for the first time in 15 years. Towns and cities depend on these funds to help finance municipal services, so that they don’t have to scrimp and save or rely completely on property taxes for those services. Fulfilling this commitment was yet another way we relieved pressure on property taxpayers. The continuing services budget also included an investment of $101 million to maintain the state’s commitment to fund public K-12 schools at 55%. It is our duty to create an education system that provides all students with access to quality education, no matter where they live. Funding schools at the mandated 55% helps achieve this and also reduces property taxes for homeowners. Right now, many Maine towns are working on their annual budgets, and they deserve to know what funding they’re going to get from the state to inform their planning. Additionally, older Mainers and individuals living on fixed incomes should not have to fear that their property taxes will suddenly increase. When the state government shut down in 2017, cities and towns across Maine were left in limbo, unable to plan for the future or provide the services that keep our communities running. By passing a continuing services budget, we ensured that Mainers are not held hostage by a politically motivated government shutdown again. The continuing services budget was part one of a two-part biennial budget process. Part two, which the Legislature will delib- erate and vote on in the coming months, will provide Democrats, Republicans and Independents an opportunity to come together and discuss new initiatives. Every day, we come to Augusta to try and do right by our neighbors, we think about what we owe our communities and we try our best to deliver that to the people of Maine. What we owe our communi- ties, above all else, is the certainty that the state will meet its obligations. I am proud of the work we accomplished for our neighbors and our communities by passing part one of the biennial budget.

Rep. Maureen “Mo” Terry, D-Gorham, is serving her fourth term in the Maine House of Representatives. She is the House Majority Leader, where she serves as head of the Democratic caucus. Outside of her legislative work, Rep. Terry is a chef and small business owner. Contact her at maureen.terry@legislature.maine.gov.