City awaits housing, resettlement trends PORTLAND — The group conducting a comprehensive review of public school facilities on Monday night received preliminary enrollment projections that suggest the end of a recent enrollment decline . Those preliminary projections, however, still lack three key ingredients expected to drive Portland’s facility needs into 2018. John Kennedy, a consultant hired from the […]
Portland Forecaster
City-wide news from The Forecaster.
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Government shouldn't ignore tough financial choices
Good Maine people at good Maine companies are losing their jobs. Managers are lowering their sales and revenue forecasts, and keep pushing back that future date everyone is looking for – the date defined as “when things get better,” or “when this turns around.” These business leaders are closing locations, cutting benefits, […]
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Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
p-schoolaudit Accounting flaws still plague School Department
PORTLAND — A new audit of school and city finances reveals some of the same deficiencies in the School Department’s accounting practices that led to nearly $2 million in overspending in 2007. Accountant Kathy Tyson, of the firm of Runyon Kersteen Ouellette in South Portland, told a joint meeting of the city and school finance teams […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
pnms-snowremoval Snow-where to put the white stuff
The enormous mounds of snow that increase in height and breadth with each winter storm have municipalities looking for places to put them, businesses searching for ways to get rid of them and drivers straining to see around them. In some cases, the hazardous drifts and piles even have neighbors battling over who’s responsible for […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
p-BRFconghist Council gets plan for historic district
PORTLAND — A plan to make Congress Street and some surrounding streets into a historic district won approval from the Planning Board last week and is now up to the City Council. The Planning Board recommended 5-2 to recommend the Congress Street Historic District proposal to the council. Joe Lewis and Shalom Odokara were opposed. […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
pnms-bouncingchecks-020409 Govts. face costs, and fear, as more checks bounce
Bad checks are on the rise, and consumers aren’t the only ones paying for it. At a time when municipal revenues are falling and costs rising, some city and town halls are also feeling the crunch of their resident’s non-sufficient funds. The town of Cumberland became concerned last summer when checks to Town Hall started […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion, Portland Forecaster, The Forecaster
p-letter_anderson Sun sense
I heartily commend Rep. Jon Hinck, D-Portland, for promoting “Right to Dry” legislation in Maine, as is reported in the Jan. 29 Forecaster. We all are concerned about climate change and energy consumption as well as saving money in these tough economic times. Allowing each of us who live in clothesline-and-solar-restrictive homeowners’ associations, as I […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
p-policechief Police chief pool loses 2 finalists
PORTLAND — Two finalists – including the interim chief of police – have dropped out of the running to become the city’s next police chief. Interim Police Chief Joseph Loughlin and Arlington, Mass., Police Chief Frederick Ryan both notified the city last week that they were withdrawing their applications. The men made it to the […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
pnms-transmissionstimulus Maine, New England join for stimulus jolt to power lines (subhead) Governors say upgrades needed fo
AUGUSTA — Maine is joining other New England states to compete for funding proposed in a federal stimulus bill that could upgrade electrical transmission capacity, a prerequisite to significant renewable energy development. Gov. John Baldacci, along with governors from the five other New England states, participated in a conference call last week to discuss a […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
pnms-stimulus Schools, transportation projects proposed for stimulus funding (subhead) Interest groups lobby, but Baldacci
Local school districts could receive more than $20 million in federal aid over the next two years if the $852 billion economic stimulus bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives is enacted. The legislation could also bring an estimated $700 million to Maine over two years and includes $137 million for highway and bridge […]