Budgeting and Appropriations | Biennial enactment of two 12-month budgets; fiscal year begins July 1. The governor-with MaineDOT-presents the Highway Fund budget to the Legislature for approval. The budget is reviewed and voted on by the Transportation Committee before it goes to the full Legislature. |
Bonding or Pay-as-You-Go | Combination of bonding and pay-as-you-go financing. The Legislature must approve any bonding. Highway Fund general obligation bond terms must be assumed to be 10 years, and the rolling, three-year average ratio of debt service payments for these bonds to highway fund revenue is limited to not more than 10 percent (Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 23, §1604). |
State-Level Funding Provided for DOT Budgets | FY 2011 (approved): $387.9 million |
Allocation of Federal Transportation Funds to the DOT | All funding allocated to MaineDOT is approved by the Legislature. Federal transportation funds are appropriated to MaineDOT at the program or category level. Any funding received from the federal government must be allocated to specific programs by the Legislature before it can be spent. |
Allocation of State Transportation Funds to the DOT | State transportation funds also are appropriated at the program level. All state funding must be allocated by the Legislature before it can be spent. |
Traditional State Funding and Finance for Highways | Fuel taxes (indexed to Consumer Price Index; see Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 36, §3321); vehicle registration/license/title fees; truck weight fees; interest income; highway fund bonds; motor vehicle inspection fees; fines; general obligation bonds; revenue bonds. |
State Funding and Finance for Other Modes | Transit, aeronautics and rail: Rental car sales taxes; bonds; off-road fuel tax. Bridges: Included with highways. |
Innovative Transportation Funding and Finance | GARVEE bonds; state infrastructure bank (federally capitalized); PPPs (authorized in statute with legislative approval requirements); design-build (authorized in statute); impact fees. (No data regarding flexible management of federal funds.) |
Dedicated/Restricted State Funds and Revenues | The state constitution restricts use of revenues from fuel taxes, registration fees and other related excise taxes to the cost of administration, construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of public highways and bridges (Me. Const. art. IX, §19). The State Highway Fund receives revenues from fuel taxes, fees, fines and interest income, and must be used for construction, reconstruction and maintenance and repair of highways and bridges; administration; and the enforcement of traffic laws (Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 23, §1653). The dedicated fund for transit and rail receives funds from rental car sales taxes and must be used for transit, aeronautics and rail (Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 23, §4210-B). |
DOT Authorized to Retain Surplus Funds | Yes. Unexpended funds at the end of the fiscal year are carried over to the next fiscal year. Also, at the end of each fiscal year, any unallocated balance in the Highway Fund over $100,000 is transferred to MaineDOT for capital and maintenance purposes. |
Legislative Approval Required to Move Funds Between Projects | Yes and no. Legislative approval is required to move funds from one program to another, but not from one project to another. |
Transportation Funding Allocations through Local Aid | Funds are mainly allocated through the Urban-Rural Initiative Program to eligible municipalities, counties or Indian reservations by statutory formulas based on lane miles (Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 23, §§1801 et seq.). These funds must be used for capital and maintenance needs of roads or bridges. MaineDOT also awards transit bonus payments, within statutory requirements (Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 23, §1807). Funds are also allocated to local entities through legislative appropriation. |