AUGUSTA – Members of Gov. Angus King’s Cabinet-level task force on terrorism preparedness are looking at a wide array of ideas aimed at bolstering readiness, but so far they have found the state’s government structure for responding to threats is working. There is concern, however, about how to pay for what will be substantial additional costs to state government for various services.

“I don’t know what the costs will be,” said Gov. King. “We know there are bills, in public safety, at MEMA [Maine Emergency Management Agency], at the health lab, but I can’t tell you now what they are or what they are going to be.”

King has used money from his contingency fund to pay for some additional lab costs, but that fund only had $300,000 before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The federal government is paying for National Guard soldiers providing airport security.

But King said needed services will be provided and exactly how they will be paid for is an issue that will have to be dealt with when lawmakers return in January.

“There is some talk in Washington for providing reimbursement to the states” he said. “This same issue is arising in every state.”

The task force, chaired by Maj. Gen. Joseph Tinkham, commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management and adjutant general of the Maine Army and Air National Guard, has been reviewing Maine’s plans and structure.

“MEMA is taking the lead on coordinating all of the efforts,” he said, “but this effort goes across departments and it has been working.”

Tinkham said that while MEMA staff is tired from working long hours, the procedures set up through the Emergency Operations Center are adequate to handle the workload. He said there has been good cooperation between state agencies and local first responders.

“We have been handling a lot of questions from members of the public and we have been working through MEMA to assess each report,” said Dr. Dora Mills, director of the Maine Bureau of Health. “We have not had a single positive test [for anthrax] to date in Maine. But, we are doing tests where they are warranted.”

Mills said the public health lab is incurring additional expenses, but the spike in the number of reports during the last week makes it difficult to estimate what the tab will be.

Public Safety Commissioner Michael Kelly said the Maine State Police have been able to handle additional costs because of several unfilled vacancies. But he is concerned about mounting bills given the number of anthrax scares.

“Yes, we will have some problems if the pace continues,” he said, “and we will not be alone.”

Members of the task force acknowledge local governments also have had increased costs for police and other first responders like fire departments and emergency medical technicians. Some local hazardous materials teams have nearly used up disposable anti-contamination suits and have racked up expenses in cleaning and checking the reusable suits.

“We have some money, through a DOJ [Department of Justice] grant to help pay for equipment,” said Art Cleaves, MEMA director. “But there is no mechanism in place right now to pay the folks for their time and that is a dilemma we are going to have to look at quite closely.”

Those cost concerns are shared nationwide, but there also have been a number of steps taken by other states that Maine officials do not see as needed here. King has rejected the idea of a state Cabinet-level commissioner for homeland security or anti-terrorism.

“We’ve already got one,” he said. “His name is Joe Tinkham. We don’t need to create something we already have.”

There are also several proposals in various states to enact anti-terror laws with specific criminal penalties. Kelly said he does not think additional criminal laws are needed in Maine.

“We’ve got laws already to cover this sort of criminal behavior,” he said. “Let’s take anthrax, for example, sent through the mail. That’s a federal crime and we would work with the FBI on that. And it is already a crime [in Maine] to commit a hoax; that constitutes criminal threatening.”

Kelly said actions taken by some states to restrict the sale of old police cruisers, firetrucks and other emergency vehicles simply will not deter a terrorist.

“They could go buy an old cab or a used Crown Victoria and paint it to look like a cruiser,” he said.

Tinkham said he also had heard of proposals to try to limit the sale of old military uniforms or those worn by law enforcement officers. He said an old uniform would not fool security personnel. He said positive photo identification would be needed along with a uniform with proper badges or insignias to enter a secure area or pass through an airport gate.

Although all of the reports to state officials of possible anthrax exposure or of suspicious packages have turned out negative, Tinkham said members of the public should call local police if they have any concerns about a letter or package. He also encouraged suggestions be made on ways the state could improve its emergency system.

“We get some really interesting and well-thought-out e-mails every day, and that has caused us to think about things we had not thought about before,” Tinkham said. “Folks tend to think that the government is watching out for them and they can go about business as usual. I really think they are wrong. They need to be vigilant and report things they are uncomfortable with to the authorities.”