The State of Maine Cash Pool represents investments permissible by Maine Statute: Title 5: Administrative Procedures and Services, Part 1: State Departments, Chapter 7: Treasurer of State, Section 135, and consists of excess money in the State Treasury that is 'not needed to meet current obligations'. The State funds and funds of component units of the State are pooled and invested by the Treasurer's Office; generally most securities are held to maturity or called when the par value of the security is received.
The Budget Stabilization Fund (sometimes referred to as the Rainy Day Fund) was created in 2003.
The Budget Stabilization Fund acts as the State of Maine’s savings account. It is a reserve balance that is set aside in good economic times to protect the state budget from the volatile changes in revenues that can occur when the economy unexpectedly slows. The goal of the Fund is to reduce the effect on the operation and services of state government and prevent policymakers from increasing taxes during sudden economic downturns.
Revenue Sharing is distributed per Title 30-A, Subpart 9, Chapter 223, Subchapter 2, Section 5681, by the 20th of each month to each municipality based on a formula whose variables include municipal populations, state valuations and tax assessments. The monthly revenue sharing pool is funded by setting aside a percentage of the State Government's sales, service provider, personal and corporate income tax receipts for the month. For a detailed description of how the funds are calculated and distributed, please see the Calculate Revenue Sharing. June’s distribution was $24,441,417.92. (May’s distribution was $39,118,073.81; June 2025’s distribution was $24,956,393.76).
Unclaimed Property consists of money and other financial assets that are considered lost or abandoned when an owner cannot be located after a specified period of time of inactivity. It includes items such as bank accounts, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, unpaid wages, stocks and dividends, refunds, and safe deposit box contents. Unclaimed Property does not include real estate, animals or vehicles.
Each and every year, tens of millions of dollars go unclaimed by Maine residents. These financial assets are turned over by thousands of national and local businesses and organizations by a law called MRSA Title 33, Chapter 45: Maine Revised Unclaimed Property Act. http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/33/title33ch45sec0.html. The Treasurer’s office holds these assets, free of charge, until claimed by the owner or heir. The State is currently holding approximately $393,000,000 in unclaimed property. In the month of June, 38,098 claims paid for $13,004,423.3326 (62,673 properties paid).
Highest single payment in June 2026 was for $72,000 (insurance policy). Last June 2025 paid 9,815 claims for $3,531,209.58 (20,684 properties paid). In the month of May, 3,072 claims paid for $4,403,633.26 (7,777 properties paid). Highest single payment in May 2026 was for $242,564 (stocks and dividends).
SPECIAL FEATURE: MAINE AFFORDABILITY PAYMENTS
The affordability payments were created to return a portion of Maine sales and excise tax payments to individuals considered to be disproportionately affected by such taxes. The budget provided $155.2 million for one-time payments to Mainers who qualify. To be eligible, individuals must meet ALL three criteria below.
- File a 2025 Maine individual income tax return by October 15, 2026, as a full-year Maine resident.
- Not be eligible to be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s 2025 individual income tax return.
- Have federal adjusted gross income of less than:
- $100,000 if married filing a joint return or a qualifying surviving spouse;
- $75,000 if filing as head of household; or
- $50,000 if single or married filing separately.
The Maine Affordability Payment Program (“the program”) was approved by the Maine Legislature to support Maine residents who are considered to be disproportionately affected by Maine sales and excise taxes. The program is administered by Maine Revenue Services (MRS). MRS will issue $300 affordability payments to eligible recipients beginning in late July 2026.
Who is eligible for the affordability payment? In order to qualify for the affordability payment, you must:
- File a Maine individual income tax return as a full-year resident for the 2025 tax year by October 15, 2026.
- Not be eligible to be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s income tax return for the 2025 tax year.
- Report federal adjusted gross income for the 2025 tax year that is less than:
- $100,000 if married filing a joint return or a qualifying surviving spouse;
- $75,000 if filing as head of household; or
- $50,000 if single or married filing separately.
I believe I am eligible to receive an affordability payment. How and when can I expect to get my payment? Beginning late July 2026, paper checks will be automatically sent to eligible recipients using the address on file with MRS. Generally, this is the mailing address from your 2025 Maine individual income tax return. See Question 7 below if your mailing address has changed since you filed your return.
Check back here in July to check your eligibility for and the status of your Maine affordability payment. If you do not receive a payment within 6 weeks of confirming your eligibility, please call the affordability payment assistance line at (207) 624-9924 to begin the process of reissuing the payment.
If the link shows you are ineligible for the payment, but you believe you qualify, please call (207) 624-9924 or email Affordability.MRS@maine.gov. See Question 2 for a list of eligibility parameters. Determination of eligibility for the affordability payment is determined solely by MRS and is not reviewable pursuant to Maine statute (36 M.R.S. § 151).
My spouse and I filed our 2025 tax return using the married filing jointly status. Will we receive a single $600 check, or two separate $300 checks? If married filing jointly, each eligible recipient will be issued their own $300 payment, exclusively in their name.
I only file a return to claim the Property Tax Fairness Credit (PTFC) and/or Sales Tax Fairness Credit (STFC). Am I still eligible to receive the affordability payment? Yes, you may qualify to receive the credit(s) and the affordability payment. If you claimed the PTFC and/or STFC on your 2025 Maine individual income tax return, a refund will be issued to you either through direct deposit or by mailed check, based on the option selected on your return. A separate $300 check will automatically be mailed to Maine residents who qualify for the affordability payment. See Question 2 to determine whether you qualify for the affordability payment.
I received my affordability payment, but it was lost, stolen, or destroyed. How can I get a new one? Contact MRS at (207) 624-9924 to begin the process of reissuing payment.
My mailing address changed after I filed my income tax return. Will my payment be forwarded to my new address? Yes. If you have submitted a change of address request to the U.S. Postal Service, your payment will automatically be forwarded to your new address. If you need to update the address on record with MRS, please submit in writing: the date of your request, your name (printed), your social security number, your signature, and proof of the new address (such as an updated photo ID, a utility bill, lease, etc.).
Required documentation may be emailed to: Affordability.MRS@maine.gov.
Or, mail the request to:
Maine Revenue Services
PO Box 1060
Augusta, ME 04332-1060
Is the affordability payment an advance on my income taxes? No. Affordability payments are not an advance.
Is my affordability payment subject to offset for other debts I owe? If I owe back taxes, will the State keep my affordability payment? No. Maine Revenue Services cannot use the payment to offset debts you owe to Maine Revenue Services or to other State agencies.
Are affordability payments subject to Maine individual income tax? No, these payments are not subject to Maine individual income tax. The payment may be subject to federal income tax. To the extent the affordability payment is taxable by the Internal Revenue Service and included in your 2026 or 2027 federal adjusted gross income, you will be able to subtract that amount on your 2026 or 2027 Maine individual income tax return.
About the Office of the Treasurer: the Office of the Treasurer of State is established in Article V, Part Third of the Constitution of the State of Maine. The core duties of the Treasurer’s Office are debt management, cash management, trust fund administration and unclaimed property administration. Other major tasks assigned to the Treasurer are directorships on many of Maine’s quasi-governmental debt issuing agencies and distributions under the Municipal Revenue Sharing Program.
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