LEEDS – A full plate of community issues faced Gov. John Baldacci at a forum with about 25 members of local government from six area towns Tuesday evening at the town office.
The governor had returned from a successful trade mission to Cuba only hours before jumping into the basics of governance in towns such as Turner, Greene, Leeds, Livermore, Livermore Falls and Wayne. State Rep. Rodney Jennings, D-Leeds, coordinated and hosted the meeting. He introduced the governor and the group then plunged into an agenda that included:
• Taxes: Some officials are concerned that while state funding for education has increased, in many cases everything that towns such as Leeds saved in education taxes, they may have lost in the Homestead Exemption. One Leeds official told Baldacci, “We may not be able to afford to have you help us anymore.”
• Workers compensation: All the towns were concerned about a recent decision involving coverage of volunteers, especially firefighters. Fears were eased when the governor and others noted that volunteers will definitely be covered when acting in the capacity of their volunteer effort.
• Department of Health and Human Services: Many shots were taken at DHHS including a criticism of its multimillion-dollar computer problems that resulted in late or no payments to local health care institutions and providers, open-ended welfare cases, and its need for an overhaul. Baldacci said the computer problems are being fixed now, and the state is working hard to make it possible for welfare recipients to find work.
• Roads: Nearly all the towns have projects affected by the federal cutback in road funds. The governor said he has a legislative/executive group working to find ways to fund the projects. Asked how the cutbacks would or would not affect the projects in the recent transportation bond issue approved by voters in referendum, Baldacci said he honestly didn’t know but would have an answer and get it to the towns right away.
• Revenue forecasts: Baldacci said when he took office three years ago next month, the state faced a $1.2 billion structural gap in funds, and had to sign on for a $250 million tax anticipation note, and the state had no funds in reserve. He said the state now has $110 million in reserves, “all our bills are paid,” and we have job and income growth. And he added that economic development is producing more and better paying jobs for thousands of workers throughout the state.
• Education: The governor hinted that changes are in store for the state’s community colleges, such as longer hours and working even more closely with the state’s career centers to provide displaced workers with greater educational opportunities.
• State employment: “There are 400 fewer state employees than when I came in three years ago; we are requiring departments and agencies to jointly use public relations and human resources specialists.”
• Drugs for seniors: Asked to extend the deadline for seniors to decide which of more than 37 drug program options they want, the governor said it was a federal program, but the state was asking for waivers on the deadline.
On a another issue, Baldacci said the federal government has flat-funded the low income heating assistance program while there has been a 40 percent increase in prices. The state is now trying to find ways to come up with the $5 million needed to provide seniors and others on low incomes with heat this winter.
The session was billed as a Regional Town Meeting Forum and attendees included Sen. John Nutting, D-Leeds, as well as managers and selectmen from the six towns.
Comments are no longer available on this story