Janet Mills proposes nearly 26% increase in budget for office of Governor

AUGUSTA – Tucked away in the outline for Janet Mills’ proposal for a new $8 billion two-year state budget proposal that some are saying is unsustainable is a list of spending increases or decreases by department of state government.

The department with the third highest percentage increase is the office of the Governor, called the “Executive Department” in the budget overview document, with an increase of 25.79%, or about a $2.2 million increase from the previous budget for Governor Paul LePage’s office.

Partisan allies of Governor Mills also see their departments boosted in the proposal, with the three Constitutional Offices, all occupied by Democratic allies of Mills also seeing major funding boosts.

The office of Attorney General, now occupied by former Democrat Representative Aaron Frey, would see a 17.98% increase in funding and the State Treasurer’s office under new Democratic State Treasurer Henry Beck, also a former Democrat State Rep. would see a 20.52% increase.

The Secretary of State’s office, which is run by Democrat Matt Dunlap, would see an 11.17% boost in funding.

The only departments that see a larger increase in proposed funding that Mills’ proposal for her own office are the Maine Human Rights Commission and Indigent Legal Services.

Overall, Governor Mills’ proposal would increase the state budget by more than 11%.

You can view Governor Mills’ proposal document in it’s entirety by clicking here.

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