LePage responds to questions during Calais town hall forum

Governor Paul LePage came to Calais High School on March 15 -- coincidentally the state's 196th birthday -- to hold a town hall with approximately 80 community members. He spoke on several points that he regards as the most pressing facing the state, including taxes, cost of education and jobs, and then took questions from the audience.
LePage began by introducing himself as someone who has lived the American dream. "I came from the streets, got a good job and now I have a family." He later added that he was part of the wealthiest one percent of the nation prior to taking his position as state governor.
Keeping the wealthy in the state is one challenge that LePage regards as critical to the state's economic future. "We need to keep the wealthy in Maine and have them make jobs," he said. "I've never had somebody hire me that was on welfare." He stated it could be accomplished in a few ways, including lowering or eliminating sales and income taxes, which he says put the state "far behind" neighbors with neither tax, such as New Hampshire. He did not mention, however, New Hampshire's property tax, which is the third highest in the nation.
"People who work here their whole lives can't even get their pension without paying taxes," the governor said, adding that many people who reach retirement instead opt to live in Florida for at least part of the year. "I'd like to bring back a few of the rich from Florida." LePage also said he would like to abolish the "death tax," which now generates $10‑15 million a year. As of January 2016, the estate tax in Maine will be assessed on estates larger than $5.4 million, beyond which the state collects 8% in taxes. This is an increase from prior years, which saw estates larger than $2 million affected.
Regarding the number of mills that have shut down in recent years, including the Madison mill, LePage said that there are six mills remaining in the state. "Two are on oxygen, one is in a wheelchair. The two that are on oxygen will survive, and one is in your community due to an investor," he said. "That's not happening in all the mills.
"We are told we're not a business friendly state. I want to change that." LePage said that mills have been traditionally taxed well beyond their valuation, citing as examples the Millinocket and Bucksport mills. "As long as we keep doing that, we won't be prosperous."
One problem that LePage claimed is preventing businesses from coming to the state is the cost of energy, which he said is the 12th highest in the nation. "I believe that wind and solar have a great future -- but not today," he said, explaining that the batteries for storing power from such sources are not yet available. "We have to use it as we make it."
Another facet of the state's imbalanced finances, according to LePage, is the cost of educating students, which he attributes largely to administrative costs. "Last year we set the record for the most money in education in the history of the state." He said that Maine has 127 superintendents for 177,000 students, compared to Florida at 64 superintendents for three million students, and that the two states' academic performances are ranked 38th and seventh, respectively. "We need to lower costs and increase performance." He added that he was assembling a blue ribbon task force to address these concerns.

Governor responds to questions
LePage took several pre‑approved questions from the audience following his opening statement. Two questions were generated from school administrative staff, including Sue Carter from Calais Elementary School and Bob Greenlaw of the school committee.
Carter questioned the governor on how the Calais school system is expected to overcome a state subsidy decrease of $360,000. LePage responded, "The formula is not fair," elaborating that it favors wealthier parts of the state rather than rural areas with lower property valuations. He added that Maine as a whole has been unwilling to adopt new teaching methods such as long‑distance learning using video, and further stated that having second‑career teachers proficient in their profession teach in high schools without requiring certification would reduce future costs. As a final point, he said there had been significant success in creating a bridge year for high school students to begin earning college credits by taking appropriate classes, and that should be expanded. "The best market in Maine is the community college system."
"We've cut our budget every single year. Now our budgets are getting cut even more," school committee chairman Bob Greenlaw said to LePage in frustration. LePage said that the costs of educating students -- particularly those with special needs -- are exorbitant. "Special education is destroying the system because it is very expensive," he said. "Special ed is eating our lunch." When questioned what schools should instead do with children who need special attention, LePage said it is up to local administration to determine that.
When questioned what additional steps could be taken to address the drug issue in Washington County, LePage said that one challenge is recruiting enough law enforcement. "We can't fill the positions because no one is applying." He said that a solution could be to equalize pay levels for urban and rural areas. LePage also said that he disagreed that drug addicts should be kept in prison. "Nonviolent people with mental illnesses shouldn't be in jail," he said, adding that he is sponsoring a bond to build a facility to house and provide treatment to addicts.
Mike Tammaro asked LePage about the possibility of restoring nursing home beds to the area, emphasizing how necessary it is for the community. LePage responded, "The community, state and investors need to share the costs." He said that introducing teleconferencing facilities into assisted living homes would reduce the need for a nursing‑home level of care.
Lubec fisherman Tracey Sawtelle asked LePage about making it more practical and possible for younger generations to enter the fisheries by relaxing age‑related restrictions. "Just because I'm a certain age, I can get licenses that no one else can," he said. He added that allowing older individuals to have as many as 400 traps while refusing younger individuals to have even 150 traps creates an imbalanced system. "Opening up the fisheries is a big issue," LePage said in response.
In closing, LePage said, "We need people in politics that are there for public service. Vet your candidates. Hold them accountable for what they say they'll do."