Press Herald
In October 2024, Gov. Janet Mills declared Maine’s school construction funding model inequitable and called for a better system to finance public school facility needs. By executive order, she created a commission to study the problem and recommend solutions. Mills’ commission uncovered a dire outlook: roughly 500 of Maine’s 600 school buildings will need to be replaced over the next two decades, an effort that would cost $11 billion.
The cost of taking a ferry from Portland to the islands in Casco Bay could rise again this summer. The Casco Bay Island Transit District is considering its second passenger-ticket fare increase in three years, citing rising operating costs. If approved, peak-season round-trip adult tickets — from April 18 to Oct. 12 — would increase from $14 to $17 in June, while off-peak daily round-trip fares would rise from $7.20 to $8.
Susan Collins walks back comment saying she’d only serve 1 more term if elected. A campaign spokesperson said Collins’ statement was ‘an offhand comment to a reporter, not a formal declaration.’ The Republican reportedly made the comment off-camera to a News Center Maine reporter after a groundbreaking ceremony for a new fire station in Sanford on Tuesday.
Maine Morning Star - The budget plan now includes a “millionaire’s tax.” It’s an income tax surcharge of 2% on wealthy Mainers, specifically on the portion of a resident’s taxable income beyond $1 million for single filers, $1.5 million for heads of households and $1.5 million for people filing jointly. The tax is expected to impact 2,631 tax returns and generate $150 million in the next biennium.
Portland Weekly - Casco Bay Lines is considering increasing rates again for round-trip ferry rides to Peaks Island, Little Diamond Island, Great Diamond Island, Long Island, Chebeague Island and Cliff Island