Maine’s budget is balanced.

At least it is as it heads to the floor of the House, where debate on the $5.7 billion spending package is expected to begin Tuesday.

The joint Appropriations Committee approved budget proposals at about 5:30 a.m. Saturday, said Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, the Senate chairwoman of the panel.

“It’s closed,” she said Sunday evening. “It’s on its way to the House.”

Rotundo said the measure is so new that state workers were continuing their efforts Sunday night to get an exact tally.

“I don’t have a total figure” for the budget, Rotundo said, “but it’s balanced. “

She said calculations point to a $3 million surplus after the first year of the two-year budget, and a $16 million surplus after the second.

“I’m disappointed that we don’t have a two-thirds budget,” she said in acknowledging a partisan divide on government spending on the part of minority Republicans.

She wasn’t dwelling on that, though.

“Now it’s on to the bond package,” said Rotundo.


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