Governor Janet Mills delivered her state of the budget address virtually on February 23, due to the ongoing pandemic. In her pre-recorded address, Governor Mills focused on the pandemic, health care, education, and the Maine economy. She paid tribute to the milestone loss of over 500,000 deaths including 660 Mainers. The governor touted the states success with fighting the covid-19 pandemic with some of the lowest infection rates, and top 20 vaccine performance in the country.
In her speech, Mills announced that her administration will present a “Back to Work” bond proposal to the Legislature in the coming weeks to accelerate Maine’s economic recovery. “I want to diversify our economy, providing good-paying jobs in every corner of this state and opportunity for all Maine families. I want a future in this state for every Maine child. And I want our young people to know that they don’t have to leave the state to get a first-class education and to find work that is gratifying, useful and financially rewarding,” Mills said. The proposal includes $30 million to expand broadband; $25 million towards developing the workforce; $50 million for Maine farmers, foresters, and fishermen; $6 million for increasing childcare facilities; and the proposal includes investments for roads and bridges, working lands and waterfronts, research and development, and energy efficiency.
Mills noted the state economy is improving with strong home sales and construction job growth. At the end of her speech, she recognized a Biddeford company that produced the heat shields used on the Mars rover that just landed there last week and said, “For now, Perseverance has put Maine on the map.”