Source: http://maine.gov/revenue/propertytax/propertytaxlaw/lawbook/title36pt4.html
Timestamp: 2014-10-25 07:18:34
Document Index: 383716124

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', '§2623', '§2624', '§2625', '§2721', '§2722', '§2723', '§2724', '§2725', '§2726', '§2728', '§2851', '§2852', '§2853', '§2854', '§2856', '§2857', '§2858', '§2859', '§2861', '§2865', '§2866']

Property Tax Law Book - Title 36 Part 4, MRS
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Property Tax Law Book - Title 36 Part 4
CHAPTER 361 RAILROAD COMPANIES
§2623. Excise tax; payment to cities and towns one percent on stock held therein
Every corporation, person or association operating any railroad in the State under lease or otherwise shall pay to the State Tax Assessor, for the use of the State, an annual excise tax for the privilege of exercising its franchises and the franchises of its leased roads in the State, which, with the tax provided for in section 561, is in place of all taxes upon the property of such railroad.
§2624. Amount of tax
The amount of the annual excise tax on railroads shall be ascertained as follows: The amount of the gross transportation receipts for the year ended on the 31st day of December preceding the levying of the tax shall be compared with the net railway operating income for that year. When the net railway operating income does not exceed 10% of the gross transportation receipts, the tax shall be an amount equal to 3 1/4% of the gross transportation receipts. When the net railway operating income exceeds 10% of the gross transportation receipts but does not exceed 15%, the tax shall be an amount equal to 3 3/4% of the gross transportation receipts. When the net railway operating income exceeds 15% of the gross transportation receipts but does not exceed 20%, the tax shall be an amount equal to 4 1/4% of such gross transportation receipts. When the net railway operating income exceeds 20% of the gross transportation receipts but does not exceed 25%, the tax shall be an amount equal to 4 3/4% of the gross transportation receipts. When the net railway operating income exceeds 25% of the gross transportation receipts, the tax shall be an amount equal to 5 1/4% of the gross transportation receipts. The tax shall be decreased by the amount by which 5 3/4% of operating investment exceeds net railway operating income but shall in no event be decreased below a minimum amount equal to 1/2 of 1% of gross transportation receipts. In the case of railroads operating not over 50 miles of road, the tax shall not exceed 1 3/4% of the gross transportation receipts. When a railroad lies partly within and partly without the State, or is operated as a part of a line or system extending beyond the State, the tax shall be equal to the same proportion of the gross transportation receipts in the State, and its amount shall be determined as follows: The gross transportation receipts of such railroad, line or system, as the case may be, over its whole extent, within and without the State, shall be divided by the total number of miles operated to obtain the average gross transportation receipts per mile, and the gross transportation receipts in the State shall be taken to be the average gross transportation receipts per mile multiplied by the number of miles operated within the State, and the net railway operating income within the State shall be similarly determined. The State Tax Assessor, after notice and hearing, may determine the accuracy of any returns required of any railroad, and if found inaccurate, may order proper corrections to be made therein. The tax calculated pursuant to this section, for any taxable year, shall be decreased by a tax credit as defined in section 2621-A, subsection 3, calculated for that same taxable year. At no time may a tax credit be utilized to decrease the tax below the minimum tax imposed by this section.
§2625. Return and payment Every railroad company incorporated under the laws of this State or doing business in this State shall file with the State Tax Assessor annually, on or before April 15th, a railroad excise tax return, on a form prescribed by the State Tax Assessor. The tax must be paid in equal installments on the next June 15th, September 15th and December 15th. The Treasurer of State shall deposit all taxes paid under this chapter into the Multimodal Transportation Fund account established under Title 23, section 4210-B.
CHAPTER 367 COMMERCIAL FORESTRY EXCISE TAX
§2721. Legislative findings
The Legislature finds that engaging in commercial forestry is a privilege that results in costs as well as benefits to the State and that persons enjoying that privilege should be subject to the tax imposed by this chapter. The Legislature further finds that the persons owning 500 acres or more of forest land are typically engaged in commercial forest activity. Historically, that amount of land has been used for administrative efficiency and to delineate the amount of land indicative of management for commercial activity, especially for purposes of the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law and the spruce budworm tax. The activity of growing commercially valuable trees is one which occupies a very long cycle. It is not uncommon that 40 years must pass between the planting of a seedling and the time when the tree will be harvested for commercial use. During that interim, it may at times be difficult to discern any obvious commercial activity taking place on the land. In many instances, the best accepted commercial practice with regard to that forest land is to do nothing other than to allow the trees to follow the natural course of maturation. Experience has shown that it is almost inevitable that a large amount of land containing commercially valuable trees will at some point be harvested for commercial purposes. Owners of such large amounts of land will receive the financial benefit of commercial activity either through the sale of the forest product or through the increased value that the forest product adds to the land when the land is transferred.
§2722. Annual tax
An excise tax is imposed upon the privilege of using one's land in commercial forestry enterprise in this State. The tax shall be levied upon owners of commercial forest land and shall be apportioned according to the formula specified in section 2723-A. The State, municipalities and the Federal Government are not subject to this tax.
§2723-A. Computation of tax
1. Calculation of fire control net costs. Annually by September 1 beginning in 1987, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall certify to the State Tax Assessor the amount appropriated from the General Fund by the Legislature for the current fiscal year, including funds appropriated or allocated for capital improvements and repairs and the amounts proposed and budgeted to be spent in any federal and dedicated accounts for forest fire protection activities in the same fiscal year. The commissioner shall certify the amounts of all projected revenues resulting from forest fire protection activities for the same fiscal year, including federal revenues and dedicated revenues from the sale of buildings, vehicles and other equipment; fees and other miscellaneous revenues; and revenues estimated to be received from municipalities and the unorganized territory pursuant to Title 12, sections 9204, 9205 and 9205-A. 2. Preceding fiscal year net costs. The commissioner shall certify to the State Tax Assessor actual expenditures and revenues for forest fire protection for the preceding fiscal year for the same categories of information required in subsection 1 and provide the net amount resulting from subtracting revenues from expenditures. 3. Roll forward amount from preceding fiscal year. The State Tax Assessor shall subtract the amount in subsection 2 from the amount determined for the preceding fiscal year under subsection 4. If the resulting amount is positive, it shall be treated as a revenue and deducted from current year estimated expenditures. If the amount is negative, it shall be treated as an expenditure and added to current year estimated expenditures. 4. Computing current year costs. The State Tax Assessor shall add all projected expenditures for the current fiscal year, including general, federal and dedicated funds. From this amount shall be subtracted all revenues projected to be received in the current fiscal year, as identified in accordance with subsection 1. From this amount shall be added or subtracted, as appropriate, the net roll forward amount from the prior fiscal year as determined in subsection 3. 5-A. Computing tax. This amount must be multiplied by 40% and the sum must then be divided by the total number of adjusted acres of commercial forest land, rounded to the nearest 1/10 of a cent and multiplied by the number of adjusted acres of commercial forest land owned by each taxpayer to determine the amount of tax for which each owner of commercial forest land is liable. 6. Minimum tax. If the amount calculated under this chapter is less than $5, the amount assessed shall be $5. §2724. Definitions
1. Adjusted acres. "Adjusted acres" means the total number of acres of commercial forest land owned by a person throughout the State reduced by 500 acres. Cotenants of property, whether joint tenants or tenants in common, shall be treated as one person and shall collectively be entitled to only one 500-acre reduction. 2. Commercial forest land. "Commercial forest land" means land that is classified or that is eligible for classification as forest land pursuant to the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law, chapter 105, subchapter II-A, except that "commercial forest land" does not include land described in section 573, subsection 3, paragraph B or C when all commercial harvesting of forest products is prohibited. In determining whether land not classified under the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law is eligible for classification under that law, all facts and circumstances must be considered, including whether the landowner is engaged in the forest products business and the land is being used in that business or there is a forest management plan for commercial use of the land or a particular parcel of land has been harvested for commercial purposes within the preceding 5 years. §2725. Due date
This excise tax is due May 1, 1986, and each subsequent May 1st.
§2726. Administration
1. Returns. The State Tax Assessor shall prescribe and make available the required tax return. All owners of more than 500 acres of forested land, whether or not that land is commercial forest land, shall complete and file tax returns with the State Tax Assessor no later than February 1st. 2. Date of ownership. The ownership and use of forested land for purposes of this chapter shall be determined as of April 1st preceding the date that the tax return is due. 3. Notice. The State Tax Assessor shall notify all landowners subject to this tax of the tax assessed against them no later than 30 days before the date that the tax is due. Failure to notify a landowner shall not relieve the obligation to pay the tax when due. 4. Supplemental assessments. Supplemental assessments may be made in accordance with section 141, subsection 1, except that the following limitations apply:
A. If a landowner who has failed to file a return under this chapter signs and files with the assessor an affidavit stating that the landowner did not know of the requirement to file a return under this chapter, a supplemental assessment may be made only for the 3 preceding years. Interest and penalties must be waived or abated if the tax is paid within 30 days after receipt of notice of the supplemental assessment as provided in a manner prescribed in section 111, subsection 2; and
B. If a landowner knew of the requirement to file a return under this chapter or if the assessor determines that the affidavit under paragraph A was falsely filed, the supplemental assessment may be made for the 6 preceding years plus interest and penalties.
5. Interest and penalties. Taxes remaining unpaid after the due date are subject to interest and penalty as provided in chapter 7. 6. Enforcement. The tax imposed by this chapter may be enforced by the enforcement and collection procedures provided in chapter 7. §2728. Report on ownership of commercial forest land by size of ownership On or before September 1st of each year, the State Tax Assessor shall provide the Director of the Bureau of Forestry within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry with information on the number of landowners filing tax returns in accordance with this chapter, including a breakdown of the number of landowners by acreage categories. The State Tax Assessor shall consult with the Director of the Bureau of Forestry in determining the acreage categories and shall provide the information in a consistent format to facilitate comparison from year to year.
CHAPTER 371 MINING EXCISE TAX
§2851. Preamble
It is the Legislature's belief that mining for metallic minerals is an acceptable and necessary activity in the State. Mining results in economic benefits to the locality where it occurs, as well as to the entire State and the Nation. Those who conduct mining do so by their own initiative and by investing their capital. When mining is conducted, investments of the State are also made to provide public facilities and services. Aesthetic costs and the permanent loss of valuable assets also result from mining. It is the Legislature's intent that the mining excise tax be fairly related to the services provided by the State and its subdivisions, as well as account for the costs of mining and the permanent loss of valuable assets.
§2852. Findings
The Legislature makes the following findings. 1. Mineral resources fundamental. Mineral resources are fundamental to modern civilization. 2. Mineral resources as economic wealth. Mineral resources have historically been a primary source of economic wealth, are valuable and, once removed, are forever lost as an economic asset to the State. 3. Development of mineral resources. Development of this country's mineral resources has involved only a small portion of its land area and may be expected to involve a similarly small portion of the land area of Maine. 4. Excise tax. The tax established by this chapter is not a property tax. It is an excise tax imposed on those engaged in and enjoying the privilege of conducting mining in the State. 5. Creation of additional costs to government by mining. The activity of mining may create additional costs to the State and its political subdivisions for government services, such as environmental monitoring and education and for highways, sewers, schools and other improvements which are necessary to accommodate the development of a mining industry. 6. Effect of mining on environment and other qualities. The activity of mining may have permanent and often damaging effects on the environment and recreational and aesthetic qualities of the State. These effects constitute a cost to the State. 7. Quality of life. The activity of mining may significantly alter the quality of life in communities affected by mining. 8. Size of mining operation. As the size of a mining operation increases, the cost to the State and its political subdivisions may increase, as do the effects on the environment. As the size of a mining operation increases, the mining company benefits from economies of scale in the mining operation. 9. Long-term and short-term economic costs. The State and its political subdivisions incur long-term and short-term economic costs as a result of mining. A fund, in which is deposited a portion of the excise tax revenues, assures that money will be available for long-term and short-term costs associated with social, educational, environmental and economic impacts of mining. 10. Impact of mining tax laws on mining industry. Mining tax laws may have a significant impact on the profitability of mining and the industry's ability to enter into and sustain production. §2853. Purpose
It is the policy of the State to encourage the sound and orderly development of Maine's mineral resources. The object of this policy is to assure that the actions associated with development of these resources will:
1. Expansion and diversification of economy. Encourage expansion and diversification of the state's economy and create new employment opportunities for the state's people; 2. Land use; environmental, safety and health regulations. Adhere to sound and effective land use, environmental, safety and health regulations administered through appropriate public agencies; 3. Assistance to municipalities and counties. Provide planning and development assistance to municipalities, counties and the unorganized territory if significantly affected by mineral resource development; and 4. Scheme of taxation. Establish a practical scheme of taxation on mining companies which will: A. Permit these companies to profitably operate mines within the State;
B. Encourage the economically efficient extraction of minerals;
C. Permit the State to derive a benefit from the extraction of a nonrenewable resource; and
D. Compensate the State and its political subdivisions for present and future costs incurred or to be incurred as a result of the mining activity.
§2854. Excise tax in lieu of property taxes
1. Annual excise tax. A mining company shall pay to the State Tax Assessor, for the use set forth in this chapter, an annual excise tax for the privilege of conducting mining within the State. 2. Property tax exemption. The excise tax imposed by this chapter shall be in lieu of all property taxes on or with respect to mining property, except for the real property taxes on the following: A. Buildings, excluding fixtures and equipment; and B. Land, excluding the value of minerals or mineral rights.
2. Commencement of mining. "Commencement of mining" means when the mine is opened and in the process of development, and shall be deemed to occur when whichever of the following first occurs: A. The surface soil is broken in order to facilitate or accomplish the extraction or removal, within 12 successive calendar months, of more than 1,000 cubic yards from the earth of a mineral, top soil or other solid matter or material naturally lying over the minerals, except in connection with exploratory activity; or B. Construction or reconstruction is commenced on fixtures, buildings or surface improvements, to be used in connection with mining. 3. Exploratory activity. "Exploratory activity" means all activities undertaken by the owner or any other person for the purpose of determining the existence of minerals or the quantity, quality or character of the minerals or feasibility of mining those minerals. These activities may include, without limitation: Testing and evaluation of the land and subsurface; taking soil and stream sediment samples; drilling on the land including, without limitation, bulk sample drilling; bulk sample excavation; performance of geophysical tests; and activities incidental to the foregoing; notwithstanding that the activity may involve the use of equipment on the land, may alter the character and appearance of the land or may result in disturbance of the land, including, without limitation, the creation of trails or roads, removal of trees, the planting of new vegetation or the taking of other measures to prevent soil erosion, or the marking of sample holes. 4. Facilities and equipment. "Facilities and equipment" means all mining property, excluding land and mineral products. 5. Gross proceeds. "Gross proceeds" means a mining company's federal gross income from mining with respect to a mine site, as defined in Section 613 of the code. 6. Land. "Land" means all real estate and all natural resources and any interest in or right involving that real estate or natural resources including, without limitation, minerals, mineral rights, timber, timber rights, water and water rights. "Land" does not include improvements constructed, placed or located within a mine site, such as buildings, structures, fixtures, fences, bridges, dikes, canals, dams, roads or other improvements within a mine site. 7. Mine site. "Mine site" means the entire contiguous area owned, leased or otherwise subject to the possessory control of a mining company within which mining or activities incidental thereto, occur or may reasonably be expected to occur. A.The mine site includes, without limitation, the contiguous area in which are located or reasonably may be expected to be located: The excavation; tailings, waste rock or overburden storage areas; mills; conveyors; concentrators; crushers; screens; pipes; canals; dams; ponds; lagoons; ditches; roads; access roads; utility facilities or equipment; pollution control facilities; railroad tracks or sidings; administrative or other buildings; or improvements, structures, rights-of-way or easements appurtenant or related to any of the foregoing. B. The mine site shall be determined according to section 2865. 8. Mineral products. "Mineral products" means all unextracted and extracted minerals and all products derived therefrom by mining. 9. Minerals. "Minerals" means all naturally-occurring metallic minerals. 10. Mining. The term "mining" has the following meanings. A. "Mining" means: (1) The extraction of minerals from the ground; or (2) Processes used in the separation or extraction of the mineral or minerals from other material from the mine or other natural deposit, including, but not limited to: Crushing; grinding; beneficiation by concentration (gravity, flotation, amalgamation, electrostatic or magnetic); cyanidation; leaching; crystallization; or precipitation or processes substantially equivalent to or necessary or incidental to any of the foregoing; but not including electrolytic deposition; roasting; thermal or electric smelting; or refining. B. Mining does not include exploratory activity. 11. Mining company. "Mining company" means a person who engages in mining in the State. 12. Mining property. "Mining property" means: A. All real estate on, under, within or comprising a mine site; and B. All tangible personal property on, under or within a mine site, or on route to or from a mine site, or being transported to or from or destined to or from a mine site, and which is owned, leased or otherwise subject to possessory control by a mining company. C. Mining property does not include: (1) All property which is not mineral products and is not primarily used or held for use in connection with mining or the business of mining at a mine site, or any activity necessary or incidental to or in support of mining or the business of mining engaged in at a mine site; or (2) Those vehicles upon which state excise taxes are paid for the current registration period pursuant to chapter 111. 13. Municipality. "Municipality" means a city, town or plantation. 14. Net proceeds. "Net proceeds" means a mining company's federal taxable income from the property with respect to a mine site (computed without allowance for depletion as defined in Section 613 of the code) adjusted as follows. A. The following deductions are allowed in addition to those allowed in computing taxable income from the property under the code: (1) Cost depletion as would be allowed under Section 611 of the code without regard to percentage depletion; (2) Exploration and development costs as defined in Sections 616 and 617 of the code. Exploration and development costs incurred prior to the commencement of mining must be recovered proportionately over the life of the mine in the same manner as that provided in Section 611 of the code with respect to cost depletion. Exploration and development costs incurred after the commencement of mining must be recovered in the year incurred; (3) Net operating loss deductions as defined in Section 172 of the code, but not including the exclusions under paragraph B; and (4) Reasonable accruals for all reclamation, restoration and shut-down costs required by state or federal laws, regulations or permits. These accruals must be made on a proportionate basis over the accrual period.
B. The following may not be allowed as deductions: (1) Property taxes paid that are allowed as a credit against the tax provided by this chapter; (2) The tax provided by this chapter; and (3) Percentage depletion as allowed under Section 613 of the code. 15. Tax year. "Tax year" means an annual accounting period ending on the last day of the month of the period used by the mining company as its taxable year for federal income tax purposes. 16. Termination of mining. "Termination of mining" means, and shall be deemed to occur on March 31st of any year if: A. The mining company has permanently abandoned mining during the previous 12 months; or B. During the previous 2 years, there has been: (1) Extraction or removal from the earth or sale of less than 1,000 cubic yards of minerals, top soil, other solid matter or material naturally lying over the minerals; and (2) No construction or reconstruction of fixtures, buildings or surface improvements which are mining property. 17. Value of facilities and equipment. "Value of facilities and equipment" means the basis to the owner as defined in Section 1012 of the code for all facilities and equipment: A. With a useful life beyond one year at the date of acquisition; and B. Which are, on the last day of the tax year: (1) On, under or within a mine site; or (2) Within the State and on route to or from a mine site, or being transported to or from or destined to or from a mine site. §2856. Amount of tax The amount of the annual excise tax on a mining company shall be the sum of the excise taxes due on each mine site. The excise tax due on each mine site shall be the greater of the following: 1. Tax on facilities and equipment. The value of facilities and equipment multiplied by 0.005; or 2. Tax on gross proceeds. The gross proceeds multiplied by: A. If net proceeds is greater than zero, the greater of the following: (1) 0.009; or (2) A number determined by subtracting from 0.045 the quotient obtained by dividing: (a) Gross proceeds, by (b) Net proceeds multiplied by 100. B. If net proceeds is equal to or less than zero, then 0.009. §2857. Returns 1. Annual return. A mining company shall file, on or before the date the mining company's state income tax return is due to be filed, an annual return on a form specified by the State Tax Assessor for each tax year. 2. Form and contents. The return shall indicate:
A. The tax due; B. The estimated tax payments made; C. Credits provided under section 2858; and
D. Information relating to the value of facilities and equipment, gross proceeds, net proceeds or other relevant information as the State Tax Assessor may by rule require. 3. Payments. A mining company shall pay the tax due, less estimated tax payments and credits, at the time its annual return is due without extensions. 4. Extensions. The State Tax Assessor may grant a reasonable extension of time for filing a return, declaration, statement or other document or payment of tax or estimated tax required by this chapter on such terms and conditions as he may require. The extension may not exceed 8 months. 5. Computation. In computing a mining company's tax, gross proceeds and net proceeds shall be computed as if each mine site were a separate taxpayer. The State Tax Assessor may distribute, apportion or allocate on a reasonable basis gross proceeds, deductions, credits or allowances between or among mining companies or mine sites, if such distribution, apportionment or allocation is necessary to prevent evasion of taxes imposed by this chapter, or to reflect clearly the gross or net proceeds of any mining company or mine site. §2858. Credits, refunds and amendments Credits, refunds and amendments shall be computed and applied separately for each mine site. The following provisions shall apply.
1. Credit for property tax prior to commencement of mining. A credit shall be allowed for property taxes paid by a mining company or any other person on property which becomes exempt during the year under section 2854, subsection 2. The amount of the credit shall be computed as follows: The number of days remaining in the property tax year beginning with the date mining commences and the next March 31st, inclusive, shall be divided by 365; the percentage thus arrived at shall be multiplied by the property taxes paid during that property tax year against such property. The credit may be used in the tax year in which the property tax was paid or in any tax years thereafter. 2. Credit for property tax paid on land and buildings. A credit shall be allowed for property taxes paid by a mining company or any other person on land and buildings that are mining property. The credit may be used in the tax year in which the property tax was paid or in any tax years thereafter. 3. Credits for prepayment of taxes. The following provisions apply to prepayment of taxes other than estimated tax payments. A. A person may prepay to the State Tax Assessor at any time prior to the end of the 5 years following the commencement of mining, a portion of the taxes due under this chapter not to exceed $250,000 in one year or $500,000 for a mine site.
B. If a person (whether or not it was a mining company at the time of the prepayment) prepays a portion of the taxes due under this chapter, it may take that prepayment as a credit against the taxes due under this chapter in any tax years following prepayment. 5. Refunds. Tax refunds and abatements shall be made in accordance with section 2011, except if estimated tax payments exceed the tax due for the tax year, the State Tax Assessor shall refund the excess, unless the mining company requests otherwise. 6. Amendment for unexpended accruals. If accruals taken as deductions under section 2855, subsection 14, are not actually expended for the purposes for which they were accrued, then the mining company shall amend its returns for the tax years the deductions were taken to reduce those deductions to actual expenditures.
§2859. Estimated tax requirements A mining company shall make payments of estimated tax pursuant to section 5228, except that the estimated tax liability is to be based on liability for the mining excise tax rather than the income tax.
§2861. Municipal reimbursement 1. Reimbursement. Excise tax revenues shall be used first to reimburse municipalities for the tax exemptions established by this chapter. 2. Treasurer's duties. The Treasurer of State shall reimburse each municipality at least 50% and, if revenues from the Mining Excise Tax are available, up to 100% of the property tax revenue loss suffered by that municipality during the previous calendar year as a result of the exemptions established by this chapter. 3. Determination of amount. The property tax revenue loss shall be determined as follows.
A. The State Tax Assessor shall make the following determinations: (1) The total amount of property taxes levied by the municipality in the previous calendar year;
(2) The municipal valuation which resulted in subparagraph (1); and (3) The valuation of the property which is exempt as a result of this chapter. B. The valuation of property which is exempt as a result of this chapter, shall be the total valuation of that property reduced by the valuation of that property which would be determined to be exempt under this Title as this Title existed on the day before the effective date of this Act. C. The State Tax Assessor shall add the valuation as determined in paragraph A, subparagraph (2), to the valuation as determined in paragraph A, subparagraph (3), and divide the sum into the figure determined in paragraph A, subparagraph (1). D. The State Tax Assessor shall apply the rate calculated in paragraph C to the valuation of the exempt property to determine the amount of potential tax revenue loss. E. The State Tax Assessor shall reduce the amount from paragraph D to reflect the additional school support provided by the State because of the change in valuation under paragraph B, which figure shall be the actual tax revenue loss. 4. Payment. The Treasurer of State shall use the excise tax revenues to pay to each municipality at least 50% and, if revenues are available, up to 100% of the actual tax revenue loss as determined by subsection 3, paragraph E. The Treasurer of State shall set aside an amount from these revenues sufficient to meet this obligation. The Treasurer of State shall pay the money due to the municipality by February 1st of the year following the year in which property tax revenue was lost by the municipality. 5. Unorganized territory. The unorganized territory shall be entitled to reimbursement under this section in the same manner provided by this section for municipalities. The amount of reimbursement due shall be paid into the Unorganized Territory Education and Services Fund established in chapter 115. 6. (TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 6/1/14) Corrective action. The Treasurer of State, following the payment of excise tax revenues to municipalities pursuant to subsection 4, shall annually set aside 25% of the remaining revenues from mining operations in municipalities not under the jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission to be deposited in the Mining Corrective Action Fund. Money in this fund is available to municipalities to fund corrective action as defined by rule by the Department of Environmental Protection in relation to metallic mineral exploration. 6. (TEXT EFFECTIVE 6/1/14) Oversight. The Treasurer of State, following the payment of excise tax revenues to municipalities pursuant to subsection 4, shall annually set aside 25% of the remaining revenues from mining operations to be deposited in the Mining Oversight Fund. Money in this fund is available to fund oversight of mining activity as defined by rule by the Department of Environmental Protection in relation to metallic mineral exploration.
§2865. Mine site and valuation determinations
1. Mine site. The State Tax Assessor shall determine the area of a mine site, taking into account all relevant information, including, but not limited to, plans or permits approved under the site location of development law, Title 38, chapter 3, subchapter 1, Article 6. The assessor shall give notice to the mining company and to the municipality in which the mine site is located of the determination. The assessor's determination is reviewable under section 151.
2. Valuation. If a mine site is located in a municipality, the assessor shall determine the valuation of mining property and the percentage of that valuation represented by land and buildings that are not exempt from property taxes. That valuation of land and buildings must be applied in determining the property taxes. The municipality in which the mine site is located may appeal that determination to the State Board of Property Tax Review as provided in chapter 101, subchapter 2-A.
§2866. Mining Corrective Action Fund 1. Creation of fund. The Mining Corrective Action Fund, referred to in this section as the "fund," is established as a nonlapsing fund administered by the Mining Excise Tax Trust Fund Board of Trustees, referred to in this section as the "board." The board shall oversee and authorize expenditures from the fund. 2. Investment. The Treasurer of State shall invest the money in the fund as authorized by Title 5, section 138. 3. Scope of corrective action. The fund may be used only for corrective action for mining operations located in municipalities. 4. Uses of fund. Money from the fund may be used only to fund corrective action as defined in the mining rules adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Land Use Planning Commission. Corrective action includes, but is not limited to, remedial action related to: A. Contaminated ground water; B. Disposition of mining wastes; C. Reclamation defects on or surrounding the site; and D. Pollution control at the site
5. Restrictions and liability. Money from the fund may be used only for corrective action necessary to address problems that occur at the site following termination of mining operations and closure of the mine. Corrective action necessary during the operation of a mine must be funded by the mining company. The existence of this fund does not relieve a mining company of any liability or responsibility arising from a corrective action following termination of its mining operation in a municipality. 6. Disposition of fund. When corrective action is necessary in accordance with this section, the board shall provide funds for remedial activities at the site on a pro rata basis to ensure that funds are available for any necessary corrective action at other sites. This determination is based on the amount of excise tax revenues generated at each site. 7. Depletion of fund. Following termination of mining operations, the mining company and, in the case of a mining company that is a subsidiary of a corporation, the parent company remain liable for any corrective action determined necessary by the board. If the contributions of the mining company to the fund are insufficient to fund corrective action, the mining company or its successor, if the company has been sold, remains liable for the costs of corrective action. If the mining company ceases to exist, the parent company, if any, is liable for any necessary corrective action. Any funds expended for corrective action as provided in this section must be reimbursed in full by the mining company, its successor or its parent corporation. Credits