8 months ago
AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- To balance the state budget, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is proposing to change the way it reimburses towns and cities for the cost of general assistance. Most communities are currently reimbursed 50 percent of what they pay out for general assistance, which provides immediate help for poor people in financial crisis. But nine towns and cities, those with the heaviest burden of general assistance, are reimbursed at 90 percent. The list ranges from Maine's largest cities, Portland and Bangor, to the smallest communities: the Indian reservations of Pleasant Point, Indian Township and Indian Island. It also includes Caribou, West Paris, Winn and Mexico. The proposal by DHHS would cut their reimbursement to the same 50 percent every other town or city gets. Several legislators and a Portland city councilor, however, say the cuts will force those communities to raise property taxes, because they are not allowed to reduce the services they provide to general assistance clients. Portland councilor John Anton says the demand for general assistance help has been up dramatically the last two years. And he says Portland would also have to take the biggest chunk of that budget cut: nearly $1.3 million of the $1.8 million total. Health and Human Services Commissioner Brenda Harvey says the department would not be proposing the cut if it weren't for the budget crisis. Harvey tells NEWS CENTER she thinks the towns and cities may be able to find ways to manage their general assistance programs differently to help them save money. The legislature's Appropriations Committee on Monday began three days of hearings on the DHHS budget, which is targeted for a total of $67 million in cuts. Groups opposing those cuts are expected to stage protests Tuesday and Wednesday in Augusta.
