Taxpayer dollars are spent primarily in accordance with the priorities of Maine citizens. Education, tax relief, health care, protection of Maine people and protection of the environment are the major areas of state spending. Half of the increased spending was returned to municipalities in the form of increased funding for education and property tax relief. Again, these items represent half of the increase in spending over the last five years. Meanwhile, during this time period, the rate of inflation increased at total of 16.9 percent.
Inflation counts for one-third of increased spending over the five year period.
This includes payments to local nursing homes, doctors, dentists and health -care professionals. Again these funds returned to the local communities. Since none of the three former legislators is in office now, I would like to advise them of exactly what my committee the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations has recommended. I would like to note that this budget has absolute bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. Republicans and Democrats alike in this body support this budget.