Our newsroom periodically examines and tracks political and governmental spending occurring in Maine — from how much money a candidate is receiving (and where that money comes from) to how taxpayer dollars are being used.
FEATURED STORY:
Dig into Maine counties’ stimulus spending with this ARPA project database
The Maine Monitor worked with the Investigative Reporting Workshop to analyze data from reports submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department. Take a look at the top spending categories and explore nearly 500 projects in our searchable table.
All Stories:
In Franklin County, officials are debating who has ultimate say over the budget: county commissioners or the budget advisory committee?
County commissioners are collecting health insurance stipends that were cut by the budget advisory committee. They are seeking advice from the attorney general’s office on whether that is allowed.
How do Maine counties set their budgets?
Each of Maine’s 16 counties has its own budget process, described in a separate section of the statute.
Washington County officials ask prosecutors to examine its budget crisis
The possibility for a criminal investigation could help move the needle for tax-weary residents approving an $11 million bond.
Washington County is asking Maine lawmakers for an $8M bailout
Years of budget mismanagement have drained the county’s finances and led commissioners to ask voters for permission to issue bonds to refinance debt and keep services running.
How does Maine spend its money?
In the past decade, Maine’s budget has gone up 77 percent, jumping from $8.2 billion in fiscal year 2016 to $14.5 billion this fiscal year, 2026.
