Taking Chances

by Justin Ellis

When it comes down to it, college is not for everyone. Some people would rather get right to making money, others see vocational schools as the best way to get bankable skills.

But with rising tuition costs and student loan rates, there are now also a group of people out there who see college as a goal, but can’t get there because of the money question.

Opportunity Maine won’t provide a gold-bricked path to college for everyone, but it will help.

The new law will provide tax credits (or "tax breaks" depending on how you feel about it) of up to $2,100 a year for students who continue to live and work in Maine following graduation.

Every one of the Opportunity Maine people I spoke to said they were almost caught off guard by the Legislature’s approval of the tax credit.

But as far as surprises go, this one was not so bad. Also, its possible this is a first-in-the-country type of program, so we’ll see if the “so goes Maine,” idea holds up.

Opportunity Maine’s organizers had been planning to take this one to the streets, just like every other citizen-initiated proposal over the last few years.

But they still plan to take their show on the road this fall to educate people about the new law and make people aware of how to take advantage of it. That means heading out to schools, talking with guidance councilors, principals, students and parents.

Speaking with Gov. John Baldacci last week, I was told that the tax credit is an important tool for keeping young people in the state.

As the governor sees it, addressing the cost and accessibility of higher education are just as important as dealing with rising property taxes. In the end, taking part in the program means joining the workforce as a young Mainer, which also means becoming another taxpayer, he said.

Baldacci said the program is not the ultimate solution, but it will help address at least some of the issues that young people face when deciding whether to stick it out here in Maine.