| This bill proposes to establish an ombudsman position at the |
| state level through the State Planning Office to provide |
| assistance and guidance to Maine's poorest counties in seeking |
| creative funding sources. The ombudsman will help municipalities |
| procure grants and other alternative funding sources and may |
| provide research and grant-writing services. Criteria to qualify |
| for assistance must be easily understood and will be set out by |
| widely publicized rules established by the State Planning Office. |
