The amount of funding from the state is their campaign's spending limit. However if they are being out spent by a non-participating candidate the state will match that amount, dollar for dollar, up to twice their original funding amount. The following represents what candidates will receive during the 2000 election cycle. There is no race for governor during this time. Maine's new law also increased existing restrictions on campaign fund raising for non-participating candidates by significantly reducing the size of contributions they may receive.
Unspent money is returned to the fund.
What is interesting about Vermont's initiative, though, is that of all the public funding laws that have been enacted or are under consideration by states, it is the only one that has been enacted by legislation as opposed to ballot initiative. Also, Vermont's legislature excepted itself out from participation by only applying it to races for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Lawmakers are expected to review the law, after its trial run in the 2000 elections, with an eye toward expanding it or modifying it in 2001. To qualify, candidates must raise a set amount of money from a minimum number of registered voters. Like Maine's law, participating candidates receive what it would cost to run a campaign in Vermont.