AUGUSTA – With requests flying in left and right, the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee members found themselves working hard at the end of the session to divide up the small amount of leftover funds not already used in the budget.

The committee had about $330,000 to dole out, which left high and dry the vast majority of the bills seeking money.

Some were carried over, according to Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, Senate chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee.

Others were approved without funding, were amended for a lesser amount or were just let go.

The bulk of the leftover money, about $150,000 went to fund an effort by Opportunity Maine to allow a tax credit for college loan repayments for Maine students.

Those bills that did get funding included a few by local legislators.

One local effort funded was by Rep. Janet Mills, D-Farmington, to provide Western Maine career centers with $15,000, albeit far less than the $350,000 originally sought in her bill.

Rotundo was behind another bill that gave the Veterans Transportation Network $12,500 a year for two years. The volunteer-based network helps take veterans from their homes to Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta.

Other bills, such as one by Rep. Thomas Saviello, an independent from Wilton, to give additional funds to community colleges, were folded into the budget.

Rotundo praised the committee for working to stay within its means in a very tight budget year. She said the budget increase – 3.7 percent over the previous budget – was very small compared to previous years.

“We tried to rein in spending, create greater efficiencies and make cuts,” Rotundo said.