No.
Maine’s general fund budget has increased significantly under Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, but it has not doubled.
According to the Maine Legislature’s appropriations and allocations data, the enacted general fund budget was $7.22 billion for the 2018-19 biennium, $7.83 billion for 2020-21, $8.69 billion for 2022-23 and $10.47 billion for 2024-25. The proposed budget for 2026-27 is $11.63 billion.
Based on those figures, Maine’s budget has increased by 45% since the 2018-19 biennial budget, which was proposed by then-Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican.
If the proposed 2026-27 budget is enacted, it would represent a 61.1% increase over 2018-19 — a substantial rise, but still well short of a doubling.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
• Maine Trust for Local News: Fact brief – biennial budget spreadsheet
• Maine Legislature: Appropriations and Allocations 2018-19 (pg. 710)
• Maine Legislature: Appropriations and Allocations 2020-21 (pg. 684)
• Maine Legislature: Appropriations and Allocations 2022-23 (pg. 864)
• Maine Legislature: Appropriations and Allocations 2024-25 (pg. 987)
• Office of Gov. Mills: Governor Mills Unveils Balanced Biennial Budget Proposal
We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is found on our FAQs. You can modify your screen name here.
Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve.
Join the Conversation
Please sign into your CentralMaine.com account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe. Questions? Please see our FAQs.