Records reveal that Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) has refused to pay off longstanding tax liens, calling into question her commitment to the fiscal responsibility she champions in office. As Maine residents grapple with rising costs and are held to strict standards by state tax authorities, the governor’s apparent disregard for her own financial obligations is drawing criticism from watchdog groups and political opponents alike.
Mills insists she has settled her tax liens, but records from the Franklin County Registry of Deeds tell a different story. The state of Maine itself previously filed liens against Mills for failing to pay her property taxes. Official documents show that she received formal warnings and notifications before the state proceeded with legal action. Despite her claims, the liens are still listed as unpaid.
Despite Mills’ claim that she “delivered payment in full,” records show she has not paid off a tax lien filed against her in March 2025. The first lien, totaling $179.19 for unpaid 2023 property taxes, was filed on March 12, 2024, and later released on April 8, 2025. However, a second lien for $178.91—this time for 2024 taxes—was filed on March 12, 2025, and there is no public record showing it has been resolved. As of now, it appears the 2024 taxes remain unpaid.
The governor's actions raise the question of why she hasn't paid off her liens and why she lied about having done so.
At the same time, the governor has supported a wide range of tax hikes—targeting everything from wages and hospitals to cigarettes and streaming services—while failing to pay her own property taxes in Maine’s Unorganized Territory, which help fund public schools. Despite being aware of her outstanding tax balance, Mills publicly criticized President Donald Trump for threatening to withhold federal funding from Maine over the state’s refusal to align with his policies on protecting women’s sports.
