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LD 821

An Act To Make Allocations From Maine Turnpike Authority Funds For The Maine Turnpike Authority For The Calendar Year Ending December 31, 2026

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Lydia Crafts

LD 821 allocates MTA’s CY2026 budget across operating expenses, reserves, debt service, capital projects, and bond payoff, totaling $191,216,624.

Signed by Governor
#allocationsyear2026 #budget #turnpikeauthority
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Bill Summary · LD 821

Summary — LD 821 (132nd Legislature)

An Act To Make Allocations From Maine Turnpike Authority Funds For The Maine Turnpike Authority For The Calendar Year Ending December 31, 2026

Purpose

LD 821 is a fiscal/allocations bill that sets the Maine Turnpike Authority’s (MTA) budget allocations for the calendar year ending December 31, 2026. It establishes how MTA revenues are to be budgeted among operating expenses, reserves, debt service, capital projects (including new interchanges), and the payoff of certain bonds issued for Department of Transportation projects.

Key provisions and budget breakdown

  • Total MTA revenue budgeted for CY 2026: $191,216,624.
  • Specific allocations (components of that revenue):
    • Operating expenses: $58,939,550 (these allocations are made directly in the bill)
    • Reserve Maintenance Fund: $42,000,000
    • Debt Service Fund: $44,392,528
    • Capital improvements for new interchanges: $43,441,746
    • Payoff of specified DOT bonds issued by MTA: $2,442,800
  • Funds that are budgeted but not allocated in the bill (the Reserve, Debt Service, capital funds, and the bond payoff amount) are explicitly not subject to the transfer limitations set out in section 2 of the bill.
  • The bonds being repaid were issued under Maine Revised Statutes, Title 23, section 1968, subsection 2‑A for specified Department of Transportation projects.

Fiscal impact

  • Fiscal note indicates a current biennium cost increase for the Maine Turnpike Authority (i.e., an increase in the authority’s budgeted expenditures for the period), funded from MTA-controlled revenues.
  • The bill does not identify an impact to the State General Fund; funding comes from the MTA’s own receipts and bond proceeds.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Maine Turnpike Authority — establishes its CY2026 operating and capital budget.
  • Secondary: Department of Transportation (indirectly), because MTA will repay specified DOT-related bonds.
  • General public/toll payers — allocations influence MTA capital projects, debt service and reserves, which can affect future project schedules and potentially toll policies (though LD 821 does not itself change toll rates).

Legislative and procedural history / Effective date

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025 (reported by Representative Crafts pursuant to statute).
  • Committee: Transportation; Committee Amendment “A” (H‑105) was adopted.
  • Passed both chambers and concurred: May 13–21, 2025.
  • Signed by the Governor: May 23, 2025 (enacted into law).
  • Fiscal notes prepared/updated: March 4, April 22, and May 13, 2025.

Notes

  • LD 821 is an allocations/budgeting measure specific to the Maine Turnpike Authority for a single calendar year (2026). It does not change underlying statutes governing the Authority beyond how its funds are allocated for that year.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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