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As the Halloween decorations pop up and the pumpkin patches proliferate, our distressingly mostly dry October is already more than half over. 

We continue to experience severe to extreme drought conditions here in western Maine, which have increasingly affected more aspects of the economy. From Poland Spring to ski resorts to maple syrup production, people are grappling with the impact of this stubborn dry streak.

Hopefully, next week’s rain marks a break in the current cycle. Nothing lasts forever after all.

Beyond the drought, below you’ll also find coverage of Central Maine Power’s request to the Public Utilities Commission to fund a spending plan aimed at modernizing infrastructure and reducing storm costs. The Mills administration and Office of the Public Advocate are opposed due to the proposed increase to Mainers’ bills. 

We also have schools getting sold and opened, a dispatch center in search of a backup system and blood tests for farmers. It’s all in the links.

In Franklin County, officials are debating who has ultimate say over the budget: county commissioners or the budget advisory committee?

County commissioners are collecting health insurance stipends that were cut by the budget advisory committee. They are seeking advice from the attorney general’s office on whether that is allowed.

Read this story by Ben Hanstein of The Maine Monitor

While The Maine Monitor does not place its content behind paywalls, some newsrooms we link to in this newsletter may. 

How do Maine counties set their budgets? Each of Maine’s 16 counties has its own budget process, described in a separate section of the statute. | The Maine Monitor

As a result of the drought, Poland Spring is cutting water usage in Maine. | Sun Journal

Ski resorts are also dealing with the lack of rain. | WGME

Meanwhile, experts on maple syrup production are worried about the health of the trees. | Maine Public

When Maine daycares stay quiet about abuse and neglect within their walls: Two cases show the difficulty of holding daycares accountable when they are responsible for reporting themselves. | The Maine Monitor

After a contractor mistakenly shut off power to the dispatch center in Franklin County and the backup system failed, the network went down for several hours. The county is now considering a replacement. | Franklin Journal

West Paris will decide whether to keep or sell the Agnes Gray Elementary School building, which was closed last year. | Advertiser Democrat

The Maine Department of Energy Resources has made a motion to the Public Utilities Commission to dismiss Central Maine Power’s proposed rate case. CMP has said that it will file a response later this month. | Maine Public

Mainers attending a public hearing on the subject in Freeport this week condemned the request to increase rates. | Portland Press Herald

Farmington property owners will be receiving tax bills that will be impacted by a combination of a lowered tax rate and a major revaluation. | Franklin Journal

In Mexico, the newly-built Mountain Valley Community School will hold an open house in November, with classes to start next year. | Rumford Falls Times

Maine is now covering the cost of blood tests for qualifying farmers or farm residents to check exposure to PFAS compounds. | Maine Public

Have feedback, a correction or know of something we should look into? Send it to our newsroom. If you have feedback or a tip that you want to send to Ben Hanstein directly email him at: benjamin@themainemonitor.org.

The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization that produces investigative journalism. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support.

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