Taxes and Budget Maine counties are spending COVID relief funds on more police and jails Maura Pillsbury, an analyst for the Maine Center for Economic Policy specializing in tax expenditures and local issues, has tracked ARPA funds by monitoring budget meetings at […] Beacon Posted October 3, 2022 Tags Coronavirus, Local
Jobs and Income Portland voters may be asked to again consider increasing the minimum wage Councilors also heard Wednesday from an analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy and the director of advocacy at the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce about […] Portland Press Herald Posted June 21, 2022 Tags Local, Minimum Wage, Wages
Taxes and Budget American Rescue Plan funds create local opportunities to advance equitable pandemic recovery Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in March of 2021, sending $130 billion dollars to county and municipal governments across the country to support recovery […] Maura Pillsbury Posted March 15, 2022 Tags Budget, Infrastructure, Local
Taxes and Budget ‘Dark store theory’ leaves local residents paying more than their fair share in taxes Even if you have never heard of the “dark store theory,” odds are you’re paying the price for it. While everyday Mainers and small business owners pay […] Bangor Daily News Posted March 7, 2022 Tags Budget, Dark Stores, Local, Property Tax, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Analysis: Opportunities abound as federal COVID relief funds flow into Maine counties According to an analysis by MECEP released earlier this month, Maine’s counties in total will receive $261 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Counties have […] Beacon Posted October 22, 2021 Tags Budget, Federal, Local
Maine’s Economy First woman of color crowned Miss Maine supporting black-owned businesses during Black History Month Brady can relate to Rwanda Bean’s mission as an immigrant herself. Her grandparents are originally from the Caribbean. “As an immigrant American, I think we are really […] NewsCenter Maine Posted February 20, 2021 Tags Economy, Local, Racial Equity
Maine’s Economy MECEP Map: Economic Insights for Maine’s Legislative Districts 2021 2021 State of the Districts Dive into the data to discover the economic trends in Maine’s legislative districts, and how they compare with other regions in Maine. […] James Myall Posted February 12, 2021 Tags Economy, Local
Maine’s Economy Our View: Buy local, start early for Maine pandemic holiday shopping Mainers should remember that it’s just as easy to order products from a local business as it is to order from a national online merchant, but the […] Portland Press Herald Posted November 22, 2020 Tags Economy, Local
Maine’s Economy We’re taking the pledge A 2011 study in Portland by the left-leaning Maine Center for Economic Policy found that, on average, 65 percent of the expenses among surveyed businesses were paid […] The Ellsworth American Posted November 12, 2020 Tags Economy, Local
Jobs and Income Guest Opinion | Rick Cole: Losing Vroman’s Would Mean More Than Losing A Bookstore Corporate businesses don’t reinvest their earnings in local communities, according to a raft of economic studies. One study done by the Maine Center for Economic Policy found […] Pasadena Now Posted October 5, 2020 Tags Local