Maine Gov. Announces $474 Million Winter Heating Relief Proposal

A $474 million winter heating aid proposal that would offer $900 checks to most households shall be thought-about by lawmakers as emergency laws, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills introduced Tuesday.

The proposal, to be thought-about by the total Legislature on Wednesday, requires $450 funds to an estimated 880,000 Mainers, including as much as $900 whole for a mean household.

Boston space utilities prospects had a giant shock within the final couple days—an enormous invoice following the speed hikes from final month.

Mills stated it’s necessary for lawmakers to make the laws their first precedence after she swears them in on Wednesday.

“Inflation and excessive vitality costs are stretching the wallets of Maine individuals, in some instances forcing them to face the unimaginable alternative of heating their properties, placing meals on the desk, or paying for different requirements,” she stated.

Lawmakers had been consulted on the proposal, and their suggestions was included. A two-thirds majority vote could be obligatory for the invoice to enter impact instantly, permitting checks to be mailed subsequent month, the governor stated. Earnings limits are $100,000 for single adults, $150,000 for these submitting as head of family, or $200,000 for {couples} submitting collectively.

Along with aid checks, the invoice would offer $40 million to bolster a federal heating help program, protecting state advantages on the earlier yr’s stage, and one other $10 million for emergency heating oil purchases to stop individuals from working out.

The Biden administration has introduced a plan to assist decrease vitality prices forward of this winter.

An extra $21 million could be used to bolster an present emergency housing aid fund to stop individuals from experiencing homelessness this winter.

Greater than half of the funding for the proposal could be courtesy of rosier-than-expected income projections to the tune of $283 million for the present fiscal yr, the governor stated.

Lawmakers made an analogous transfer final yr, utilizing about half of the state’s $1.2 billion surplus to ship refund checks to about 850,000 taxpayers for inflation aid.