Maine Budget Gap Projection Fuels Election Fight Over MaineCare
Maine's Bureau of the Budget projected a $1.085 billion structural general fund gap for the 2028-2029 biennium, the budget the next governor and Legislature will have to craft, plus a separate $256.7 million highway fund gap. State officials note such gaps are routinely projected and this one tracks historical averages, though the dollar figure is larger because the overall budget has grown under Gov. Janet Mills. Republicans, campaigning ahead of the Nov. 3 election, are citing the gap to call for structural changes to MaineCare, the state's Medicaid program, citing its rising costs; Democrats counter that growth reflects the state meeting statutory funding obligations and reducing the uninsured rate. The next governor and Legislature will decide whether to cut program spending or raise revenue, with updated state revenue estimates due in December.