Democrats weigh repeal of tax breaks for wealthy as downturn threatens state services

Maine’s state budget is facing an estimated 30-percent revenue decline in the next fiscal year from the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) reported this week, resulting in a $1.2 billion shortfall that could put critical services and state jobs at risk.

Lawmakers who are involved in shaping the state budget say the shortfall highlights both a dire need for federal relief and the necessity of weighing different revenue policies to maintain and expand state infrastructure, public schools and higher education, health care, jobs and safety net programs.

Click here to read the full story, first published May 11, 2020, in Beacon.