Linux Mint might use the same LTS base for Linux Mint 17 (to be released at the end of May 2014) as well as the next 3 releases. In a comment posted recently, Clement Lefebvre, the Linux Mint Project Leader, points out that

That means that Linux Mint 17, 18, 19 and 20 might all use Ubuntu 14.04 LTS as a base instead of being based on newer Ubuntu releases.





If that happens, Linux Mint would have a more stable base and it would allow the Mint team to "push innovation on Cinnamon, be more active in the development of MATE, better support Mint tools and engage in projects we’ve postponed for years".



That doesn't mean there will be only one Linux Mint release every 2 years. There would still be a Linux Mint release very 6 months, but the base (the Ubuntu version Mint is based on) would only change once every 2 years.

(speaking about Linux Mint 17 Qiana) "Yes, it’s an LTS release (we’re also considering basing the 3 releases after than on the very same LTS base)".

"The decision wasn’t made yet, and after/if it is made we can always adapt it based on how things go. The length of the support is an element but it’s not the most important one at play. There’s also an element of quality and a wish to run mature and proven software rather than to jump on brand new frameworks, techs and toolkits every 6 months. And then there’s the fact that we want to develop more. We want to push innovation on Cinnamon, be more active in the development of MATE, better support Mint tools and engage in projects we’ve postponed for years. So the idea is to boost all that by only adapting to new bases once every 2 years, to better commit to that one base shared by all releases and to better support it, and to have our hands freed to do exciting stuff. Note that all will become important post-Qiana though, around November 2014".

via Antoni Norman

The comments posted by Clement Lefebvre can be found below: