On Tuesday, February 23, Governor Janet Mills delivered her State of the Budget speech via recorded video and not before lawmakers in the state capital due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can view that video or read the text of her speech here. The Governor announced she would not raise taxes or spend more money than existing resources and revealed details of her plan for Maine’s economic recovery.

NFIB’s Maine State Director, David Clough commented publicly on elements of the Governor’s speech that impact small businesses: 

“It is very important the legislature pass tax relief tied to the Paycheck Protection Program loans that is at least as helpful as the Governor’s proposal that puts no burden on almost all the state’s small businesses. This will help many small businesses that are still struggling to recover after unprecedented revenue losses and continued restrictions during the pandemic.

“At a time when small businesses are fragile, hearing that the Governor doesn’t want to raise taxes and won’t spend more resources than the state has on hand offers confidence to business owners so they can focus on recovery and growth. It is also helpful that she has prioritized training programs to create a strong workforce, strong businesses, and ultimately a strong recovery.  

“Broadband improvements are critical to the success of Maine’s economy because if small businesses cannot connect they cannot prosper. Students would not be able to get the education and training needed to fill open jobs. NFIB’s small business owners were surveyed and quality broadband statewide is a priority.”