Maine Higher Education Leaders Applaud Governor’s Budget Proposal

Maine: Leaders from the state’s public universities and community colleges are really backing Governor Janet Mills’ proposed budget. It includes a 4% bump for higher education and keeps the free community college program going.

Mills shared her budget plan recently, which is a two-year, $11.6 billion spending proposal. It sets aside $25 million to continue the free tuition program for community colleges that she started in 2022. Plus, the higher education budget would rise to $41 million, helping the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System, and Maine Maritime Academy. There’s also an extra $10 million for the new Paid Family Medical Leave program for public higher education staff.

At a recent meeting in Portland, Chancellor Dannel Malloy expressed gratitude to the governor but noted that challenges remain. He emphasized that while this is a great start, there’s still a lot of work to do with the Legislature.

The heads of the state’s three higher education systems released a joint statement showing strong support for the budget. David Daigler, who leads the community college system, praised Mills for making the free community college program a permanent part of the state budget. This is a big deal because it used to rely on one-time funding.

Daigler said this move sends a strong message to Maine families about the state’s commitment to building a better future. Since the fall of 2022, over 17,000 students have taken advantage of the tuition-free offer, which is available for full-time students with a high school diploma or GED.

The leaders also welcomed the governor’s plan to help cover costs related to the Paid Family Medical Leave program, which started this year. Mills allocated $10 million in her budget to help with contributions for about 12,200 public college and university employees.

In recent years, the University of Maine System faced financial hurdles, like state funding not keeping pace with inflation and a drop in enrollment. However, there was a silver lining this year with a reported 3% increase in student numbers, marking the first growth in decades.

Daigler and Malloy had previously asked Mills for continued funding for the community college program and more support for rising costs. The combined systems have a hefty $2 billion in deferred maintenance.

Interim President Craig Johnson of Maine Maritime Academy also celebrated the budget proposal. His college, which focuses on marine studies, has around 950 students and is committed to providing valuable training for successful careers in Maine and beyond.