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Local school cuts also restored
March 3, 2009
AUGUSTA – Biddeford Reps Alan Casavant, Paulette Beaudoin and Stephen Beaudette announced today that the Maine Department of Transportation has given the green light to some local projects which received a portion of the federal recovery package funds that were sent to Maine. The Biddeford Democrats also expressed relief that the cuts to local schools will now be halted because of federal dollars.
“Projects on Pool Street and Alfond Street in Biddeford are going to receive over $1 million in recovery funds,” said Beaudette. “Infrastructure improvements are vital to economic recovery and growth. This money will mean more jobs.”
The Transportation Department identified two projects in Biddeford and a number of other projects around the state that were highest on its priority list and is ready to begin construction as soon as the bidding process is complete. The state has set a goal of completing all projects during the upcoming construction season. The Route 9 project was estimated at $454,702, and the Route 111 project was estimated at $631,128.
In addition, the difficult cuts made to local school budgets by the Governor and the Legislature at the beginning of this year will be restored. While the upcoming biennial budget for fiscal year 2009 to 2011 will still have to close an $838 million dollar budget gap, support for schools will not drop further and there will be a one-time infusion of federal dollars from other parts of the recovery package.
“This is one-time money, so it won’t fix budgets for schools,” said Casavant. “But it will allow many schools to make needed classroom and technology upgrades.”
Further information about how the recovery package funds will be invested will be coming out in the following weeks.
Contact:
Rep. Alan Casavant, 284-4690
Rep. Paulette Beaudoin, 284-6324
Rep. Stephen Beaudette, 283-4086
Katie Dzurec, Legislative Aide, 287-1430
Kyle Leighton, Communications Director, 287-1433