131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 2042 LR 2758(02)
An Act to Update the Laws Governing Education in the Unorganized Territory
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
Current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Reimbursing parents for the transportation of elementary school children residing in the unorganized territory will increase the cost to the Education in the Unorganized Territory (EUT) program within the Department of Education beginning in fiscal year 2024-25. According to the department, sufficient funds exist within the program's current appropriation for the 2024-25 fiscal year to support the cost of this provision, estimated to be $64,400, and additional General Fund appropriations will not be required at this time. Whether or not additional General Fund appropriations will be needed in future biennia will depend on the number of students residing in the unorganized territory that need to have their parents provide transportation, the number of miles traveled each day and the mileage reimbursement rate.  
General Fund expenditures from the EUT program are fully reimbursed by the Unorganized Territory Education and Services Fund. The expenditures incurred from this bill are not expected to impact the amount of taxes collected through the Unorganized Territory Education and Services Tax, which is levied on all nonexempt real and personal property located in the Unorganized Territory Tax District, in fiscal year 2024-25. The impact of this provision on taxpayers in the unorganized territory in future biennia cannot be determined at this time.