Attention MWUA Membership:

Everyone, we need your help urgently to ensure full funding of the state match for the State Revolving Loan Fund for water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Last night, the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee voted to cut the Governor’s recommended funding in the “Part 2” Budget (Part K and Part MMMM) by 25%. If this vote stands, it will reduce the state match not only during the biennium, but also in future budget years, as noted below:

• $8.75M reduction in federal matching funds per year into the foreseeable future;
• $27.5M additional reduction in federal matching funds over the biennium;

Combined, these cuts represent a loss in federal funds for the biennium of $45M, all of which would be used to fund needed water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

What can you do? We need you to email the Appropriations Committee and let them know that you oppose the 25% cut and urge them to fully fund the State Revolving Loan Fund in Parts K and MMMM of the Part 2 Budget (LD 258) for needed water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Tell them in your own words why these funds are needed. Tell them why this program has been valuable in the past and why Maine should not leave historic federal money on the table from the federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act. Your email should include a “re” line saying “LD 258, Parts K and MMMM – Water and Wastewater Infrastructure”

Appropriations Committee

Sen. Margaret “Peggy” Rotundo, Chair, 207-287-1515, Margaret.Rotundo@legislature.maine.gov

Sen. Richard Bennett, 207-287-1505, Richard.Bennett@legislature.maine.gov

Sen. Jill Duson, 207-287-1515, Jill.Duson@legislature.maine.gov

Rep. Melanie Sachs, Chair, 207-299-6825, Melanie.Sachs@legislature.maine.gov

Rep. Mark Blier, 207-712-5705, Mark.Blier@legislature.maine.gov

Rep. Nathan Carlow, 207-929-0895, Nathan.Carlow@legislature.maine.gov

Rep. Benjamin Collings, 207-405-7865, Benjamin.Collings@legislature.maine.gov

Rep. Jack Ducharme, 207-431-0775, John.Ducharme@legislative.maine.gov

Rep. Jessica Fay, 207-655-5020, Jessica.Fay@legislature.maine.gov

Rep. Drew Gattine, 207-409-3477, Andrew.Gattine@legislature.maine.gov

Rep. Ann Matlack, 207-594-4831, Ann.Matlack@legislature.maine.gov

Rep. Rebecca Millett, 207-415-3770, Rebecca.Millett@legislature.maine.gov

Rep. Sawin Millett, 207-592-5398, Sawin.Millett@legislature.maine.gov

Talking Points.  Here is some background information on the two sections of the Part 2 Budget – which is LD 258. The testimony of Maine Water Utilities Association is here and provides additional background information.

• Part K – removes the dedicated revenue stream from the Liquor Operations Fund that (for nearly a decade) has gone to the Drinking Water Program (for water districts) and the DEP (for sewer and sanitary districts) to fund the state match for the State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) that leverages federal infrastructure funds on a 5:1 basis.  In lieu of this dedicated revenue stream, Part K of the Budget proposed a “baseline budget” of $7M per year for these funds, divided equally between water and wastewater. The AFA Committee cut this funding by 25% yesterday, which is a cut of $1.75M per year in state funds, with a corresponding loss of $8.75M per year in federal funds.
• Part MMMM — came from the Governor’s Change Package and provided one-time state matching funds for the SRF program in the amount of $22M over the biennium to match $110M in one-time federal money from the Infrastructure and Jobs Act for water and wastewater infrastructure. Yesterday, AFA cut this proposed appropriation by 25%, which reduces the state match by $5.5M and the federal match by $27.5M.

There is a VERY short window for us to act, and there is absolutely no guarantee that we will be successful in urging the AFA Committee to restore these cuts. However, without your help, there is very little chance that these funds will be restored. So, please take a moment to contact AFA members TODAY.

Many thanks!

MWUA