AUBURN (WGME)– Maine Governor Janet Mills proposed two years of free community college in her State of the State Address Thursday night.
The proposal is all about keeping students debt-free and getting them into good-paying jobs, especially in industries that are facing workforce shortages.
Under Mills’ proposal, those who graduate from high school in 2020, 2021,2022 or 2023 could have tuition and fees covered. These cost an average of $3,700 per student per year.
“Maine’s community colleges are critical to addressing our needs for skilled workers. But too many students can’t enroll because they can’t afford to go to college,” Mills said.
It could help up to 8,000 students.
Full-time students could attend for free for one or two years if they apply this year or next.
Those already enrolled could get their second year covered.
For out-of-state students like Lucas Neudecker, he’d have to commit to living and working in Maine.
“It’s definitely something I’m going to consider because Maine is nice and I am thinking about working outside of Vermont,” Neudecker said.
Community colleges tend to attract local students.
Officials hope this would help keep them in Maine to live and work.
“This investment will provide a pathway for thousands of young Maine people to thrive and build strong families,” Maine Community College System President Dave Daigler said.
The plan is part of the governor’s forthcoming supplemental budget. This proposal is expected to cost about $20,000,000 for its initial cost.
“I’d love to continue it for much longer as well but we’ll see how it goes,” Mills said.
The governor also wants to offer up to $25,000 in student debt relief, as long as applicants live and work in Maine.
But these proposals still have to make their way through the legislature.
“Given that Janet Mills’ school lockdowns deeply hurt students’ and parents’ mental, emotional and financial health, any of her election-year proposals funded by federal funny money should be met with extreme skepticism,” Maine Republican Party Executive Director Jason Savage said..
The sentiment was echoed by the Paul LePage campaign.
“Janet Mills is proposing an election-year gimmick, attempting to buy votes with state spending. Nothing in life is free and Mills one-time money is tied to more federal debt that today’s students will pay back in a lifetime of taxes,” LePage Senior Advisor Brent Littlefield said. “Only a limited number of high school students would benefit, based on limited class years, and then the Maine taxpayers who are already suffering under inflation will be asked to pick up any future tab. It is unsustainable.”
LePage is widely expected to the Republican nominee in the race for governor later this year.
