| Consolidation
— its time has come 
"The important thing is, it’s not
so much consolidation, as much as it is changing the way we are doing things," said
the governor. "We must change just as the world is changing around us. We spend too
much on administration, too many levels of government, too much overhead, and more and
more of our resources are drained away from where they need to do the most good. We have
to eliminate government bureaucracies and we have to reduce the costs so we can plow all
of those resources into kids — into our future, and into their future opportunities.
The better we do, the better we all do. That’s how Maine works, and how Maine will
work better in the 21st century."
By Ramona du Houx
Changing how business is run, analyzing and
restructuring is hard for most entrepreneurs. In the end the need to be successful makes
change happen. If not, stagnation occurs. In order for Maine to be successful in a global
economy, there are changes that have to happen now.
When the Brookings Institute issued its
comprehensive report on Maine, just over a year ago, more people began to realize that
merging state agencies and streamlining state and local government has real benefits to
the economy. The governor has been working towards these goals for years. State government
has been streamlined with information technologies (IT) and mergers, but few know of the
details because they weren’t sensational news headlines.
With Brookings, a major report now exists for the
public to analyze. Other reports soon followed and the Legislature took serious note,
setting up a special prosperity commission. The governor took further measures and set up
commissions. A major bond package which invests in Maine and its future in the global
economy passed. Now it’s up to voters to ensure that these bonds go forward this
coming November.
But it was really only one measure that the press
focused on. Some media organizations were quick to sensationalize school consolidation,
because of its controversial aspect. Plans are moving forward with the initiative, as
schools want to move forward and see the benefits for their students. According to the
Department of Education, the majority of schools, more than 80 percent, now view
consolidation of the administration units as an opportunity to make the educational system
better for everyone.
The governor is taking further bold actions. He
introduced a plan to consolidate Maine’s prison system into one unified entity. He
will freeze property tax assessments due to jail costs at current rates, so that property
taxes cannot increase because of communities having to pay for local prisons. Maine’s
correctional system is complicated and needs an overhaul to be simplified, streamlined,
and unified for the health and wellbeing of all Maine citizens.
Mainers move with the seasons, taking things in
their stride. The majority work extremely hard and enjoy the free time they get with
family and friends. On average, incomes are below the national average. Consolidation
plans could help incomes rise.
School consolidation of administrative units
saves money — the people’s tax money.
In many areas across the state LD1 reduced
property taxes because local municipalities and their school districts responsibly enacted
the essential programs for schools. Those school administrative units that didn’t are
now mandated to do so under the school administration consolidation program.
People in Maine understand that improving their
income situation takes time, hard work, and a focused effort. It doesn’t happen
overnight. It takes changing Maine’s business climate, educational opportunities, how
the state does business, and attitudes. Creating Pine Tree Zones, eliminating the tax on
equipment, establishing incentives for companies to set up internet connections with the
ConnectME program, and investing in research and development, all have helped businesses
grow. Creating the Community College System has opened the doors of opportunity to
thousands. These solid successes are helping to transition Maine into the 21st-century
economy.
When the governor took office, he inherited a
$1.2 billion deficit — which the Baldacci administration eliminated. In personal
finances, most people want to clear their debts to move forward. That is what is happening
at the state level. All the while, initiatives have been put into places that are reducing
state government costs, while investing in the state’s future.
"During my time in office, we have
streamlined state government, halted runaway growth in health and human services spending,
revitalized the structure of public school administration, and committed 800 million new
dollars into K-12 education. And we did it all without raising broad-based taxes,"
said Baldacci. "We will continue this work by looking at government spending at all
levels."
The governor’s business approach of putting
one’s house in order is serving the state well by saving money. Those funds have been
channeled into other areas of need, areas where the federal government has cut funds
destined for the most vulnerable Maine citizens and areas where the state lagged behind in
the global economy.
Currently measures to combine the state’s
natural resource agencies, transportation departments, and a unified health-purchasing
system are being explored for future savings and efficiencies.
The time for consolidation has come, because it
is part of the measures the state needs to take to continue to move forward in the global
economy.
"The important thing is, it’s not so
much consolidation, as much as it is changing the way we are doing things," said the
governor. "We must change just as the world is changing around us. We spend too much
on administration, too many levels of government, too much overhead, and more and more of
our resources are drained away from where they need to do the most good. We have to
eliminate government bureaucracies and we have to reduce the costs so we can plow all of
those resources into kids — into our future, and into their future opportunities. The
better we do, the better we all do. That’s how Maine works, and how Maine will work
better in the 21st century."
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