SOUTH PORTLAND — The South Portland City Council on Monday logged
what it called a “message vote” in hopes of expressing its displeasure with
state changes to General Assistance guidelines.
The annual amendment of the city’s General
Assistance ordinance, which outlines rules for public charity to the needy, is
generally a perfunctory affair, limited to updating local minimum payouts to
match new state calculations, based on income guidelines.
This year, however, municipal leaders are forced
to accept additional changes made in April by the state Legislature, which made
a 10 percent cut in the program and limited housing assistance to nine months,
with some restrictions, for the fiscal year starting July 1. Gov. Paul LePage
had initially proposed even deeper cuts to cover a projected $12 million
shortfall through 2013. He eventually made inaugural use of the line-tem veto
power to carve additional funding from the program, which reimburses most
cities and towns 50 percent of their outlay to cover heat, rent and other bills
for the indignant.
Councilors were not impressed with the change.
“It’s not something I’d like to have on our
books, but we have no choice,” said Councilor Maxine Beecher.
“You are correct,” said Kathleen Babeu, South
Portland’s General Assistance director, who reported on her efforts at
clarification with the state. “If the city votes to not accept this ordinance
change, it is still considered law. Anything it pays over the nine months,
unless covered by an exemption, would not be reimbursable.”
Babeu said no one got more than nine months of
housing assistance in South Portland last year, other than those who would
still qualify for an exemption because they are mentally challenged or have a
Social Security case pending.
Still, Councilor Tom Coward, who last week won
the Democrat Party nomination for the Cumberland County Commissioner District 4
seat, questioned the motives of Republicans in making the cuts.
“Do I get the sense that this statute may be a
little bit of political posturing from our friends in Augusta, rather than
actually trying to reduce the G.A. budget?” he asked.
“I can’t speak for Augusta,” said Babeu. “I can
just tell you that I’m taking good care of people here in South Portland.”
Councilor Tom Blake called state curtailment of
the reimbursements, failing local adoption of consenting ordinance language, “a
serious threat.” For that reason, he said, it was “critical” that the ordinance
passes. However, because passage of an ordinance requires five yeas, Blake said
he would vote against the measure. He was joined later by Coward, who also cast
a ceremonial protest vote once the five other councilors had sufficiently
passed the measure.
“I’m sure the governor will not be aware that it
was a 6-1 or 5-2 vote, but I think it’s important to try and send a message,”
said Blake. “So, I will be voting no.”
“Oh, sure,” quipped Councilor Rosemarie De
Angelis, “put the burden on us.”
Most of the councilors who voted in favor of
amending local rules, like Gerard Jalbert, did so “very reluctantly.”
“The state is kind overstepping their bounds and
not showing that they actually care about those who’ve had the least
opportunity in life,” said Jalbert. “As much as I would very much like to vote
against this, I understand that we could lose some funds and we need to think
about everyone that’s receiving General Assistance.”
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