Penobscot commissioners oppose bill allowing counties to declare bankruptcy

Government bankruptcy protection bill garners little support

Photo by Garrick Hoffman.AUGUSTA — A bill that would let Maine towns and counties seek bankruptcy protection received little support at a legislative hearing Wednesday. The bill, sponsored as an emergency measure by Sen. Marianne Moore, R-Washington, recognized increasing financial pressures on counties and municipalities as property values rise and the cost of living increases. If passed, the measure would let public officials seek relief throu…

Penobscot commissioners oppose bill allowing counties to declare bankruptcy

Penobscot County Commissioners voted Wednesday not to support a bill that would allow Maine counties to declare bankruptcy. The bill, L.D. 2009, would allow counties and municipalities to file for federal bankruptcy “upon exhausting all reasonable alternatives to avoid bankruptcy, a determination by the state auditor that the county or municipality is insolvent and approval by the county commissioners or municipal officers.” The bill was submitt…