Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1629
Committee Amendment CA_C-SA_E_S347 (Senate)

SENATE 
AMENDMENT "f" to COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT "c" to H.P. 
1209, L.D. 1629, "RESOLUTION, Proposing a Competing Measure under 
the Constitution of Maine To Create Municipal Service Districts 
To Reduce the Cost of Local Government, To Provide Property Tax 
Relief and To Increase Economic Competitiveness" 
Amend the amendment by striking out the substitute title and 
replacing it with the following: 
'RESOLUTION, Proposing a Competing Measure under the Constitution 
of Maine To Create Municipal Budget Guidelines, Reduce the Cost 
of Local Government through Increased State Education Funding and 
Provide Property Taz Relief' 
Further amend the amendment in Part A in section 2 in that 
part designated "§lS671-A," by striking out all of subsection 3. 
Further amend the amendment in Part B in section 1 in that 
part designated "§S721-A," in the first line (page 5, line 45 in 
amendment) 
by 
striking out 
the 
following: 
"limitation" 
and 
inserting in its place the following: 
'guidelines' 
Further amend the amendment in Part B in section 1 in that 
part designated "§572l-A," by striking out all of the first 
indented paragraph (page 5, lines 47 to 49 in amendment) 
and 
inserting in its place the following: 
'The Legislature recommends that municipalities follow the 
following 
guidelines 
for 
municipal 
appropriations 
for 
fiscal 
years based on tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2005.' 
Page l-LR2l65(26) 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
ft..,. 
SENATE AMENDMENT "£,, to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "C" to H.P. 1209, 
L.D. 1629 
Further amend the amendment in Part B in section 1 in that 
part designated "§5721-A." in subsection 2 in the 2nd line (page 
6, line 21 in amendment) by striking out the fo1lowing: 
"may" 
and inserting in its place the following: 
'should' 
Further amend the amendment in Part B in section 1 in that 
part designated "§5721-A." in subsection 3 in the 2nd line (page 
6, line 27 in amendment) by striking out the following: 
"Qn.ly" 
and inserting in its place the following: 
without triggering 
the notice reguirement under subsection 4, , 
Further amend the amendment in Part B in section 1 in that 
part designated "§5721-A." in subsection 3 by striking out a1l of 
paragraph C (page 6, lines 36 and 37 in amendment) and inserting 
in its place the following: 
'C. 
A direct 
vote 
authorizing 
or 
reguiring 
increased 
spending 
by 
the 
citizens of 
the municipality, 
in 
town 
meeting or by referendum or citizens' initiative;' 
Further amend the amendment in Part B in section 1 in that 
part designated "§5721-A." in subsection 4 in the last 2 lines 
(page 
7, 
lines 
and 
in amendment) 
by striking out the 
fo1lowing: 
"its share of the revenues from the Local Government 
Fund under section 5681 must be reduced in the fo1lowing manner:" 
and inserting in its place the following: 
'the municipality 
shall include a notice on the ballot, warrant or other instrument 
'by 
which 
the 
spending 
is 
authorized 
indicating 
that 
the 
municipality has 
exceeded the state guidelines 
for municipal 
appropriations .• 
Further amend the amendment in Part B in section 1 in that 
part designated "S5721-A." in subsection 4 by striking out a1l of 
paragraphs A, Band C. 
Further amend the amendment on page 8 by striking out all of 
the question (page 8, lines 21 to 24 in amendment) and inserting 
in its place the following: 
'''Do you want to lower property taxes and avoid the need for 
a major increase in state taxes by phasing in a 55% state 
contribution to the cost of public education and require the 
public 
be 
notified 
when 
municipal 
spending 
exceeds 
recommended limits?'" 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the cap on growth in the municipal 
side 
of 
municipal 
budgets 
with 
recommended 
guidelines 
for 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE AMENDMENT .. f, .. to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "c" to H.P. 1209, 
L.D. 1629 
controlling the growth of municipal budgets. 
Instead of cutting 
the 
municipality's 
share 
of 
state 
revenue 
sharing 
if 
the 
guidelines are exceeded, the amendment requires a municipality to 
include a notice when the spending is authorized indicating that 
the municipality has exceeded the state guideline for municipal 
appropriations. 
This amendment removes provisions regarding the 
adoption of property tax rates that exceed the local cost share 
expectation. 
This amendment clarifies the language relating to 
one of the exceptional circumstances 
outlin~d in the section 
governing municipal appropriation limitation. 
The amendment also 
replaces the question presented to the voters. 
COUNTY: 
Kennebec 
FlSCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriationsl Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 08/21103 ;t;vae 
l2lst Maine Legislature 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD 1629 
RESOLUTION, Proposing a Competing Measure under the Constitution 
of Maine to Create Municipal Budget Guidelines, Reduce the Cost of 
Local Government through Increased State Education Funding and 
Provide Property Tax Relief 
LR 2165(26) 
Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment {!' to Committee Amendment "C" 
Sponsor: Sen. Gagnon 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2003-04 
$0 
$0 
2004-05 
$0 
$0 
Projections 
2005-06 
($40,000) 
($40,000) 
Projections 
2006-07 
($80,000) 
($80,000) 
This amendment reduces the General Fund cost of the bill by $40,000 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $80,000 in fiscal 
year 2006-07 due to the elimination of the provisions concerning a cap on municipal appropriations and its impact on 
the Department of Audit. 
LR2165(26) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1