AUGUSTA – Maine Treasurer Henry Beck released financial numbers in the Office of the State Treasurer Oct. 21, reporting that as of the end of September 2021, the balance in the cash pool was $3,876,884,663.11. 

Numbers shared include the average daily balance and earnings to date of the cash pool, the balance of the State’s Budget Stabilization Fund, revenue sharing payments, as well as monthly payouts for Maine’s unclaimed property program.

The State of Maine Cash Pool represents investments permissible by Maine Statute: Title 5: Administrative Procedures and Services, Part 1: State Departments, Chapter 7: Treasurer of State, Section 135, and consists of excess money in the State Treasury that is 'not needed to meet current obligations', said the treasurer’s office in an Oct. 21 news release.

The State funds and funds of component units of the State are pooled and invested by the Treasurer's Office; generally most securities are held to maturity or called when the par value of the security is received.

Without Federal Coronavirus Relief Funds,  American Rescue Plan funds, and Emergency Rental Assistance, the balance was $3,089,476,053.96.

The average daily balance in the cash pool was $3,832,244,856.91, and earnings as of the end of September were $4,512,621.21, including $1,465,955.29 for the month of September.

Without Federal Coronavirus Relief Fund, American Rescue Plan funds, and Emergency Rental Assistance, the average daily balance was $3,044,836,247.76.

The Budget Stabilization Fund, sometimes referred to as the Rainy Day Fund, was created in 2003 and acts as the State of Maine’s savings account. It is a reserve balance that is set aside in good economic times to protect the state budget from the volatile changes in revenues that can occur when the economy unexpectedly slows, according to a news release from the Maine treasurer’s office.

The goal of the Fund is to reduce the effect on the operation and services of state government and prevent policymakers from increasing taxes during sudden economic downturns. As of the end of September, 2021, the balance in the Fund was $492,259,681.03.

Revenue Sharing is distributed per Title 30-A, Subpart 9, Chapter 223, Subchapter 2, Section 5681, by the 20th of each month to each municipality based on a formula whose variables include municipal populations, state valuations and tax assessments.

The monthly revenue sharing pool is funded by setting aside a percentage of the State Government's sales, service provider, personal and corporate income tax receipts for the month.

For a detailed description of how the funds are calculated and distributed, see Calculate Revenue Sharing.

September’s distribution was $16,993,320.18.

As a reminder, revenue sharing is currently at 4.5%.  It reaches 5% in fiscal year 2023.

The figures for revenue sharing included in this release reflect 4.5% of aggregate of sales, use and income tax.

Unclaimed Property consists of money and other financial assets that are considered lost or abandoned when an owner cannot be located after a specified period of time of inactivity. It includes items such as bank accounts, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, unpaid wages, stocks and dividends, refunds, and safe deposit box contents.

Unclaimed Property does not include real estate, animals or vehicles.

Each and every year, tens of millions of dollars go unclaimed by Maine residents.

These financial assets are turned over by thousands of national and local businesses and organizations by a law called MRSA Title 33, Chapter 45: Maine Revised Unclaimed Property Act. http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/33/title33ch45sec0.html. The Treasurer’s office holds these assets, free of charge, until claimed by the owner or heir. The State is currently holding over $275,000,000 in unclaimed property.  In the month of September, 1,169 claims were made against unclaimed property totaling $1,087,156.20 in payments to Maine people. The highest single claim paid in the month of September was for $74,000.00.

The Office of the Treasurer of State is established in Article V, Part Third of the Constitution of the State of Maine.  The core duties of the Treasurer’s Office are debt management, cash management, trust fund administration and unclaimed property administration.  Other major tasks assigned to the Treasurer are directorships on many of Maine’s quasi-governmental debt issuing agencies and distributions under the Municipal Revenue Sharing Program.