PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 11, 2021
Maine lawmakers included $40 million for land conservation in the state’s newest budget, one of the biggest cash infusions to the Land for Maine’s Future program since it started more than 30 years ago. The investment comes as record numbers of people visit Maine’s outdoors and pressure builds over development and preserving sensitive areas. The budget, which passed with overwhelming support in the Legislature, includes the largest appropriation ever for the program and the biggest single deposit since a voter-approved bond in 1999. The program became a political target for former Gov. Paul LePage despite the program’s wide popularity among Maine voters. The overwhelming bipartisan support for appropriating $40 million in the state budget, rather than relying on a voter-approved bond, shows how much buy-in the conservation program has across the state, said David Trahan, executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.