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Maine Lawmakers Pass $7.98 Billion Budget

Maine Lawmakers Pass $7.98 Billion Budget

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AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Maine lawmakers have passed a two-year budget deal with a sticker price slightly below the governor’s original $8 billion proposal.

The House voted 103-48 and the Senate voted 25-9 Friday. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said she looks forward to signing it.

The deal effective July funds Medicaid expansion and more child protection workers, and eliminates the 24-month limit for medication-assisted treatment.

Democrats trumpeted the agreement as boosting revenue sharing with municipalities in 2021 and expanding the property tax credit. Republicans say they’re glad the budget is now below $8 billion but worry future revenues will be lower than projections.

Lawmakers got the budget down thanks in part to $185 million in surplus tax revenues.

The deal also puts $18 million into the rainy day fund.

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