AUGUSTA – Maine Senate President Michael Thibodeau (R-Waldo) today presented legislation that would create a commission to examine reducing unfunded and outdated mandates on local Maine communities.
The bill, LD 1377, “Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Reduction of Unfunded and Outdated Municipal Mandates,” had a public hearing in front of the Maine Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee today.
The commission would be required to meet twice a year for two years in order to produce a list of those state mandates that local communities are required to follow so the Legislature can vote on whether to eliminate or revise those mandates.
“Our local governments have a tough enough time as it is making ends meet without having the state add new requirements for them every year. I am constantly hearing from our local officials that they need relief, and I believe this bill provides a way forward to do that,” Senate President Thibodeau said.
Among those who testified in favor of LD 1377 was Kathy Littlefield from the Town of Waldo, who has served on the Board of Selectmen for more than forty years.
Littlefield told members of the State and Local Government Committee, “I have to say to you all that I have been dealing with unfunded mandates, in one form or another, for a very long time, and it’s getting more and more frustrating to try to comply with all these mandates with no willingness on the State’s part to participate with the financial implications of compliance.”
Representatives from the Maine Municipal Association and Maine Mayor’s Coalition also testified in favor of LD 1377. The committee is expected to vote on the bill soon. Once that happens, it will go to the full Legislature.