Current Projects

The Commission has initiated a variety of projects.

Blueprint for Maine

The Commission lays out its principles and goals for delivering government services in Maine. It looks to strengthen and streamline existing regional government, improve efficiencies, and foster regional service delivery.

Blueprint for Government, December 2006 (Word Document - 197KB)

Blueprint for Government Powerpoint Presentation (PDF 311KB)

LD 214 - An Act To Initiate the Intergovernmental Advisory Commission's Blueprint for Government (January 2007)

LD 142 – Resolve, To Improve the Professional Development of County Officials (January 2007)

Model Chart of Accounts

The Commission identified the need to speak a common language to facilitate comparison of financial data and consistent financial reporting. It submitted legislation directing the Maine Department of Audit to create a working group to develop a model chart of accounts for all levels of government.

The Maine Department of Audit, working with municipal officials, CPAs, and state finance personnel, developed a model chart of accounts for use by municipalities and counties. The structure, which coincides with the one that is now required by the Maine Department of Education for schools, was prepared with a universal structure to accommodate smaller municipalities and for larger municipalities needing a more complex structure.

The Commission will look for ways to assist municipalities with converting to the new accounting structure.

Model Chart of Accounts for Maine Governments, November 1, 2006 (PDF 156KB)

Facilitating Government Cooperation

At the behest of the Intergovernmental Advisory Commission, the 122nd Legislature directed state agencies to establish a process whereby municipalities can file statutorily-required state reports jointly when they are involved in a regional effort. The goal is to facilitate municipal efforts to consolidate the delivery of local government services. It also directed the State Planning Office to report on the status of implementing the joint filing requirements. The resulting report determined the need for more work in this area.

Facilitating Government Cooperation (PDF 190KB), A Report to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government, January 2007.

Reviewing Mandates

In 2005, the Legislature passed a resolve directing the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee to review unfunded state mandates and report back to the Legislature on their legal origin, costs, and characteristics. The Commission has reviewed a number of mandates and work continues in this area.

Statutorily-required Municipal Services in Maine (State and Federal Law)

MMA Mandate Working Group: Findings and Recommendations, August 31, 2005

commission INFORMATION

Current Projects

Blueprint for Maine

Model Chart of Accounts

Facilitating Government Cooperation

Reviewing Mandates