Dear Friend,
Since my last newsletter, the COVID-19 state of emergency has ended in Maine, my colleagues and I have passed important legislation, and approved a bipartisan budget that addresses some of Maine's most critical funding needs. In short, the last few weeks have been busy in the Maine Legislature.
The budget received overwhelming bipartisan support and is the result of months of work between Democratic, Republican and Independent lawmakers. I am so proud of the work that the committee on which I serve did to craft a plan that, despite legislating during a pandemic, keeps our promises to the people of Maine to stabilize rising property taxes, support Maine's schools, improve health care accessibility, bolster economic development, support workers, take significant steps to combat climate change and so much more.
There is a great deal of good stuff in this budget and I can't possibly share all of it in a short update. If you would like to discuss our budget or any other legislation we worked on, please don't hesitate to reach out to me either via email or by phone.
ADDRESSING PROPERTY TAXES:
The budget raises municipal revenue sharing to help stabilize property taxes by shifting the cost of essential services off of property taxpayers. This brings critical relief to our municipalities. We have also permanently expanded the property tax fairness credit and increased state funding for the Homestead Exemption Program.
IMPROVING HEALTH CARE ACCESSIBILITY:
The budget includes significant measures to improve Mainers’ access to health care and long-term care. An estimated 217,000 Mainers will gain access to regular dental care, which will prevent costly emergency room visits and cut health care costs statewide. I am particularly excited that my bill, LD 1573 was funded in the budget, resulting raising wage rates to address the long-term care workforce shortage. These measures can significantly improve Mainers’ access to adequate services for intellectual disabilities and behavioral health. We have also included critical funding for long-term care facilities to support those facilities' residents and the hardworking professionals who care for them.
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT:
We have taken critical steps to protect Maine’s environment, natural resources and combat climate change. The budget includes $40 million for the Land for Maine’s Future program to ramp up Maine’s land conservation efforts. These funds will play a vital role in supporting Maine’s outdoor recreation economy and Maine’s tourism economy. We have also provided funding for municipal partnership projects to improve climate resilience and emission reductions at the local level. In addition, the budget includes crucial funds to address PFAS contamination, known as “forever chemicals,” in Maine’s groundwater and soil. Cleaning up existing PFAS in our environment and preventing future contamination is critical to the health and well-being of Maine people, farms and wildlife.
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I hope you are taking time to enjoy the summer in our corner of this wonderful state.
Be well,
Jess Fay
Serving District 66
207-415-4218
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CHILD TAX CREDIT PAYMENTS
Starting July 15, roughly 230,000 eligible families in Maine will receive monthly federal Child Tax Credit payments. This will bring critical relief to many Maine families, bolster our local economy and bring thousands of children out of poverty.
CASCO DAYS IS BACK
After being cancelled last year, the Casco Days festival will return on July 29, 30 and 31. Come and enjoy fireworks, music, parades, games, races and more. Click here for more information.
STAYING SAFE DURING HEAT WAVES
It's summertime and this season has already brought us several heat waves, with more likely to come! Heat waves can cause power outages and heat-related illnesses. Take some time to review the Maine CDC's guide for how you can prepare yourself and your household for extreme temperatures.
When the next heat wave arrives, click this link to find a list of cooling centers open to the public.
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MUNICIPAL CONTACT INFORMATION
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