Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0749
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: ANDREWS, BOWEN, MILLETI, LEMONT, COURTNEY, JOY, LEWIN, MILLS, MURPHY, SHERMAN, VAUGHAN, YOUNGBLOOD

Legislative Document 
No. 749 
H.P.555 
House of Representatives, February 14,2003 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Control State Spending Based on Certain Guidelines 
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative ANDREWS of York. 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: BOWEN of Rockport, MILLETI of Waterford, Senator 
LEMONT of York and 
Representatives: COURTNEY of Sanford, JOY of Crystal, LEWIN of Eliot, MILLS of 
Cornville, MURPHY of Kennebunk, SHERMAN of Hodgdon, VAUGHAN of Durham, 
Senator: YOUNGBLOOD of Penobscot. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Constitutional amendment. 
Resolved: 
Two 
thirds 
branch 
of 
the 
Legislature 
concurring, 
that 
the 
amendment to the Constitution of Maine be proposed: 
Constitution, Art. IV, Part Third, §24 is enacted to read: 
Section 24. 
Limitation on growth of state budget 
of 
each 
following 
The Legislature shall establish a General Fund expenditure 
ceiling that limits the growth of General Fund appropriations, 
excluding federal funds received by the General Fund, 
to the 
estimated rate of growth of the State's economy as measured by 
the 
sum 
of 
inflation 
plus 
the 
percentage 
change 
in 
state 
population in the prior calendar year. 
No 
appropriations in 
excess of this ceiling may be authorized during any legislative 
session unless the Legislature, 
by 
a 
2/3 vote of the entire 
elected membership of both Houses, sets forth the dollar amount 
and the rate by which the ceiling will be exceeded and the 
reasons therefore. 
; and be it further 
Constitutional referendum procedure: form of question: effective 
date. Resolved: 
That the municipal officers of this State shall 
notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, 
towns 
and 
plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding 
a 
statewide election, at a 
statewide election, on the Tuesday 
following the first Monday of November following the passage of 
this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment 
proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question: 
"Do 
you 
favor 
amending 
the 
Constitution 
of 
Maine 
to 
establish a ceiling on state spending and require a 2/3 vote 
of the Legislature to approve General Fund expenditures that 
exceed the rate of inflation plus the percentage change in 
state population in the prior calendar year?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall 
vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a 
cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square below 
the word "Yes" or "No." 
The ballots must be received, sorted, 
counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings 
and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as 
votes for members of the Legislature. 
The Governor shall review 
the returns and, if it appears that a majority of the legal votes 
are cast in favor of the amendment, the Governor shall proclaim 
that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of the 
Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation: and be it 
further 
Page l-LR0242 (1) 
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. 
Resolved: 
That 
the 
Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town 
and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this resolution 
necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. 
SUMMARY 
This 
constitutional 
resolution establishes 
a 
ceiling 
on 
General 
Fund 
expenditures 
and 
requires 
a 
2/3 
vote 
of 
the 
Legislature to approve General Fund expenditures that exceed the 
rate of inflation plus the percentage change in state population 
in the prior calendar year.