AUGUSTA — A bill that’s gaining steam in the Maine Legislature would again require the state to pay in full the cost of teacher retirement.

The Democratic-led House voted 119-27 to give initial approval to Rep. Walter Kumiega’s bill last week. The Republican-controlled Senate will now consider the proposal.

Kumiega, a Democrat from Deer Isle, wants to reverse the 2013 decision to move some of the teacher retirement costs onto local communities. He says doing so will reduce uncertainty in local budgets and send the message that the state can’t “balance the budget” on the backs of communities.

The bill is being opposed by the Maine Department of Education, which told the committee last month that retirement costs should be a local responsibility, like salaries and other benefits.


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