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Maine’s heavily burdened property tax payers may find some relief at the ballot boxes this fall, thanks to a record number of petition signers who supported the proposed School Finance and Tax Reform Act of 2003.
The act will be a referendum question on the 2003 ballot.
“It was the most successful single-day petition drive in Maine history,” Tom Perry, superintendent for the Orono-Veazie schools, said. “It obviously hit a responsive chord with citizens.”
If the referendum is passed in November, the state would have to pay for 55 percent of the total cost of kindergarten through grade 12 education, and all funding for special education.
According to Geoff Hermon, director of the Maine Municipal Association, the state made promises to pay for at least the majority of kindergarten through grade 12 education for more than 18 years.
“That promise has never been honored,” he said.
Proponents of the act believe this has placed property owners in a bind.
“By and large, citizens want good schools in their communities. But the burden on the local taxpayer is intense,” Perry said. He believes Maine towns have had to make up the difference in promised funds and that this initiative will ease the tax burden.
Maine’s elected officials, struggling with a sluggish economy and budget shortfall, believe the state has not wholly shirked its educational obligations.
Jonathan Thomas, state representative for Orono, said the state is moving closer to fulfilling its obligations in education, and that over the past few years it has been able to meet its per-pupil guarantee. That guarantee has been frozen at last year’s level due to the budget shortfall.
“The Legislature realizes that education is a top priority with voters,” Thomas said. “It will fare better than anything else in the budget.”
He noted that the state government is currently funding 43 percent of education costs statewide.
, “I am very concerned about the governor’s education funding proposal for the next two years because it may impact the property tax vote,” Sen. Mary Cathcart said.
Cathcart said the state should look at tax reform and broadening the sales tax to pay for the increase in education funding.
Supporters of the initiative say they realize the timing is not ideal for the state government.
“Of course, this is a terrible economic period for everyone,” Perry said. “But even when things were going quite well for the state, the government never really committed the funding.”
Bangor Daily News