![Will You Qualify For a $500 Check From Governor Mills? Find Out!](http://townsquare.media/site/494/files/2020/08/janet-mills-fb.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Will You Qualify For a $500 Check From Governor Mills? Find Out!
Last night during her State of The State address, Maine Governor Janet Mills made mention of the state's projected $822 million surplus, and her tentative plans for the money.
Part of the Governor's plan is to return some of the money immediately back to Mainers. Though the population of the State is just over 1.3 million, there are an estimated 800,000 current Maine taxpayers. These are the people that would qualify for the $500 checks per person.
According to the Kennebec Journal, Mills made mention to her 'friends across the aisle', crediting Maine Republicans with the idea of sending the money to Maine taxpayers. Though it's currently just a tentative plan, early indications are that the State Legislature would quickly approve the measure.
After $500 checks go out to the Maine taxpayers, there would be about $411 million left in the surplus. Mills laid out a plan that would pump a majority of those funds into things like childcare assistance, high speed internet access and potentially up to two years of free community college.
During her speech Mills also made reference to the progress Maine has made during the COVID-19 pandemic saying,
“Our presence in this chamber tonight is a sign of progress, of recovery – a step forward in our march towards normalcy and stability, especially from where we have been. We have arrived at yet another inflection point in this winding pandemic, a hopeful moment as we welcome downward trends and declining hospitalizations; a warmer, brighter spring as we emerge from a cold, dark winter.”
15 Events We Were Talking About In 2021
Romantic Restaurants In Maine
The Best Central Maine Discount Stores
Do you have our free radio station app yet? If not, it's the perfect way to request a song, talk to the DJs, enter exclusive contests and to stay up to date with everything that's happening in and around Central Maine and the world. When you download it, make sure you turn on the push notifications so that we can send you exclusive content and local breaking news that you need to know about first. Just enter your mobile number below and we'll send a download link right to your mobile device. After that, you can download for free and immediately begin accessing all kinds of exclusive content tailored just for you. Give it a try and stay connected with us!
![Kool AM logo](https://townsquare.media/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WTVLAM.png?w=100)
More From Kool AM
![Maine Sets a New Record For Deer Harvested During 2022 Season](http://townsquare.media/site/490/files/2022/12/attachment-anthony-roberts-62SSgxmRf2Y-unsplash-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![To Whoever Took The Fuel For The Camp Out Hunger Generator, We Hope You Really Needed It](http://townsquare.media/site/490/files/2022/11/attachment-312293116_828037341855791_2793627364364077530_n.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![18-Year-Old Mainer Killed After Crashing Motorcycle into School Bus Full of Students](http://townsquare.media/site/490/files/2020/11/RS15976_101477085-e1605280559221.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Get Those Umbrellas Ready, Maine on Track to Get Tropical Downpours on Wednesday](http://townsquare.media/site/490/files/2022/10/attachment-WGME-13.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![19-Year-Old Mainer Killed in Monday Crash After Vehicle Leaves Roadway, Strikes Several Trees](http://townsquare.media/site/490/files/2012/11/Ambulance-Jim-McIsaac.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Central Maine High School Student Allegedly Threatens to Bring Gun to School](http://townsquare.media/site/490/files/2022/10/attachment-Spruce-Mountain-High-School.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![JUST IN: A Train Derailed in Maine Early Wednesday Morning](http://townsquare.media/site/490/files/2022/10/attachment-lance-grandahl-nShLC-WruxQ-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Police Respond to Reported Armed Robbery at Camden National Bank in Augusta](http://townsquare.media/site/490/files/2022/10/attachment-Camden-National-Armory-Street-Augusta.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Two Augusta, Maine, Restaurants Are Going to Be Merging into One](http://townsquare.media/site/490/files/2022/10/attachment-shawnanggg-nmpW_WwwVSc-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)