Support the Proposed Maine Government Efficiency Commission

In order to pay for investments in Maine's economy and reduce Maine's tax burden, the GrowSmart-Brookings Report recommends a "Maine Government Efficiency Commission" to streamline spending in administrative levels of government. This bipartisan group would locate potential savings of $60 to $100 million from the annual budget, and send its savings proposals to the State House for a straight up or down vote. By insulating the contentious work of streamlining government from political motives, the Commission will be more likely to succeed in cutting costs. Legislation that would create the Commission has been submitted in the Legislature as LD 1848, An Act to Promote Sustainable Prosperity (click the link to learn more about the bill).

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Form A Commission to Streamline Maine Government

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

The Legislature should form a bipartisan Maine Government Efficiency Commission to reduce bureaucratic redundancies and streamline Maine's state government.

According to the Brookings Institution, such a Commission could save up to $100 million every year.

While the Legislature has been justifiably eager to implement other components of the GrowSmart-Brookings Report, the Efficiency Commission is a keystone requirement that deserves more immediate action.

Without it, other important investments will wither for lack of funding.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 10, 2007

Background Information

Streamline government and cut taxes:

Create a Binding Government Efficiency Commission

Maine needs to modernize and overhaul state government and K-12 school administration, and reduce some aspects of local government duplication. A top-to-bottom overhaul of bureaucracies would not only improve service and finance needed investments, but could also make a down-payment on tax reform.

The commission would be modeled after the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission, which has won begrudging praise for its ability to reduce the nation's over-extended military infrastructure. The so-called BRAC commission reflects the fact that in some cases government cannot restructure itself without going outside of government for help. In this case, a high-level commission would undertake a rigorous analysis of the structure and cost of state government and make recommendations that would be subject to a simple up or down vote by elected officials.

Brookings estimates that Mainers could save from $60 million to $100 million a year with such a tough, extensive, thoughtful and binding review.

Savings would go toward investments in the Innovation Jobs Fund and toward tax reductions. Property tax relief should be earmarked to towns with a high percentage of un-taxable property. The income tax should be reduced by lowering the top tax rate and increasing the threshold that triggers the entry rate.

Learn more: Text of LD 1848, An Act to Promote Sustainable Prosperity