AUGUSTA – While concerns about the consolidation of school systems lingered into Tuesday night, many local representatives planned to vote in favor of a two-year, $6.3 million state budget package.

The package was unanimously approved by the Appropriations Committee last week and will move through the full Legislature this week. It must pass by a two-thirds vote.

Closed-door discussions among leadership members took place during much of Tuesday afternoon, and at 8:30 p.m. House members were still waiting on an amendment that addressed many critical issues surrounding the education plan, including the timeline, penalties and student population benchmarks.

Reps. James Hamper, R-Oxford, Thomas Saviello, an independent from Wilton, and Nancy Smith, D-Monmouth, all said they’d support the budget, pending the amendment on the consolidation piece being prepared by the House leadership.

Both Saviello and Smith are members of the Legislature’s Rural Caucus, which highlighted a number of concerns. From what members of leadership told them, they were satisfied with the coming amendment, but still wanted to see it on paper.

Reps. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston, and Deborah Simpson, D-Auburn, both said they knew the administration cuts needed to be made, and they feared it would be watered down by their colleagues.

“I’m frustrated,” Craven said. “We have a lot of splintering, and I don’t know how things are going to look after the caucus.”

Simpson said there are still a lot of misconceptions – the consolidation talks only apply to administration.

“I’m worried that will weaken the provisions that are controlling the costs,” Simpson said, later adding, “Why should we spend so much on administration. I’d rather have that money go to the classrooms.”

Craven, a member of the Appropriations Committee, said there are other items of concern in the budget besides school administration. There are significant cuts to MaineCare and mental health programs.

“We’re cutting $20 million from the most vulnerable people,” Craven said.

For Reps. Richard Wagner, D-Lewiston, and Teresa Hayes, D-Buckfield, the answer was simple. The budget provided the necessary cuts. They would vote for it.

“It’s clear, people want it,” Wagner said.

Hayes said that instead of being picky over individual items, it was her job to look at the broad picture and see the overall savings.

“If you focus on any one thing, you will come up with a myriad of amendments,” she said.

It wasn’t so simple, however, for Rep. Randy Hotham, R-Dixfield, who was opposed to the budget as it stood Tuesday afternoon.

Hotham said the Appropriations Committee added a number of items to the budget at the last minute, and he feared they would increase taxes.

Reps. Michael Beaulieu, R-Auburn, and Scott Lansley, R-Sabattus, were both on the fence. Beaulieu said he was wary of the consolidation talks, and Lansley said he wanted to get reaction from constituents on the final product.

Rep. Sawin Millett Jr., R-Waterford, the ranking Republican member on the Appropriations Committee, said he was pleased that the committee was able to come to a unanimous consensus on the budget proposal.

“This is the first time we’ve been able to live within our means … and not rely on increasing taxes,” Millett said.

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