Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0916
Committee: Taxation
Sponsors: DAVIS, HATCH, CRESSEY, GAGNE-FRIEL, HONEY, JOY, ROSEN, SHERMAN, SHIELDS

Legislative Document 
No. 916 
H.P.673 
House of Representatives, February 20, 2003 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Limit Present-home Property Taxes 
Reference to the Committee on Taxation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative DAVIS of Falmouth. 
Cosponsored by Senator HATCH of Somerset and 
'Ifl~ /h.1lbc~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: CRESSEY of Baldwin, GAGNE-FRIEL of Buckfield, HONEY of Boothbay, 
JOY of Crystal, ROSEN of Bucksport, SHERMAN of Hodgdon, SHIELDS of Auburn. 
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. IX, §8, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
of 
each 
following 
6. 
Annual cap on homes resided in by same owner. 
The 
Legislature shall limit tax rates imposed by municipalities on 
real property for homes in which the same person resides year to 
year. 
Municipalities may annually increase the tax rates imposed 
on those properties in an 
amount not to exceed the rate of 
inflation for the prior year. 
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 allow 
for an annual cap, based on the rate of inflation for the 
prior year, on property taxes for property owned and resided 
in by the same owner?" 
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 
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. 
Page l-LR0085(1) 
.. 
SUMMARY 
This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine 
to 
require 
the 
Legislature 
to 
enact 
a 
law 
that 
prohibits 
municipali ties from increasing property taxes by more than the 
rate of inflation for the prior year if the property is owned and 
resided in by the same owner.