AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Janet Mills signed a supplemental budget to fund government operations through the end of June, providing tax cuts to businesses and unemployed Mainers, her office announced Thursday.
The budget means income tax breaks for more than 28,000 businesses and 160,000 unemployed workers.
“This supplemental budget is the result of a long and, at times, arduous debate. But ultimately it was sensible compromise on all sides that got it across the finish line,” Mills said.
Other bills signed into law by Mills require racial impact statements for legislative proposals, give clerks more time to process absentee ballots and eliminate prior approval for school absences for a religious holiday.
Mills also announced that she extended the tax filing deadline until from April 15 to May 17 to mirror the federal government’s recent extension.
The budget required long negotiations, but ultimately passed with near unanimous support. In the end, the House approved the proposal 139-1 and the Maine Senate approved it unanimously.
It provides $100 million so the state can fully mirror the federal government tax exemptions on Paycheck Protection Program loans for businesses and provides $47 million to exempt pandemic unemployment benefits from state income taxes.
It also provides $30 million to direct care workers and nonprofit providers, and $100,000 to support veteran services.
