Gov.-elect nominates pick to lead state budget department

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Maine’s incoming Democratic governor has nominated an attorney general’s office chief to lead the state’s budget department.

Gov.-elect Janet Mills announced Monday that she had selected Kirsten Figueroa as commissioner of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services. Figueroa currently serves as chief of the Administrative Services Division for Mills in the attorney general’s office.

Figueroa has worked in financial management roles at multiple state agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services. She served as Avesta Housing’s CFO for three years as well.

Mills said in a statement that she was confident Figueroa will help prepare a budget that will “maintain fiscal stability” and “reduce the burden of property taxes.”

A two-year state budget is due in February.