While snowfall prevented many people from attending this year's Tax and Budget Conference, many brave folks came out to listen to an array of speakers discussing all sides of the 'streamlining government' debate. We began with a look at state spending in Maine and New England with Darcy Saas' keynote followed by respondents Richard Silkman, Beth Ashcroft and Rebecca Wyke. Four panels discussed the major targeted areas for state spending reductions; consolidating K-12 Administration, restructuring Corrections, merging Natural Resource Protection and re-thinking Health Purchasing. While there was agreement that the fiscal issues facing Maine this legislative season are real, there was plenty of debate on the best way to achieve a balanced budget without compromising Maine values or creating unintended consequences. Presentations and other materials from the conference are posted below.

Remarks and PowerPoint Presentations

• Framing the Discussion - Christopher St. John, Maine Center for Economic Policy
• Looking at State Spending in Maine and New England - Darcy Saas, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
• Looking at State Spending Response - Rebecca Wyke, Commissioner, Dept. of Administration and Finance
• Looking at State Spending Response - Richard Silkman, Maine Public Spending Research Group
• Merging Natural Resource Protection, Nick Barth
• Merging Natural Resources - Martha Freeman, Director Maine State Planning Office
• Merging Natural Resources - George Smith, Director, Sportman's Alliance of Maine

Related Materials and Responses

Choices: Applying a Business Model to Government: Lessons from the Past by Frank O'Hara

MECEP responds to Maine Public Spending Research Group presentation

View Materials from our 2007 Conference