An Act To Reduce the Cost of Local Government through Increased State Education Funding and Provide Property Tax Relief
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1924
Committee Amendment CA_A-SA_A_S550 (Senate)

SENATE 
AMENDMENT 
to COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT 
"A" to S.P. 
761, 
L.D. 
1924, 
Bill, 
"An Act 
To 
Reduce 
the Cost of 
Local 
Government through Increased State Education Funding and Provide 
Property Tax Relief" 
Amend the amendment in section 1 in that part designated 
"§1677." by striking out all of subsections 3 and 4 and inserting 
in their place the following: 
'3. 
Benchmarks and projected performance indicators. 
In 
addition 
to 
the 
considerations 
set 
forth 
in 
subsection 
2, 
paragraphs A to D, the committee's determination under subsection 
must be based on consideration of the following benchmarks and 
projected performance indicators for the specified state fiscal 
years. 
A. 
For fiscal year 2006-07: 
(1) 
The benchmark for the state share of the total 
cost of the essential programs and services described 
in Title 20-A, section 15671 is 48.0%; and 
(2) 
The 
projected 
performance 
indicator 
for 
the 
related reduction in local property tax commitment to 
fund the cost of the essential programs and services 
described in Title 
20-A, 
section 
15671 is 
a 
local 
property tax commitment that is less than the local 
property tax commitment made in fiscal year 2005-06 .. 
B. 
For fiscal year 2007-08: 
(1) 
The benchmark for the state share of the total 
cost 'of the essential programs and services described 
in Title 20-A, section 15671 is 50.0%; and 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE 
AMENDMENT 
L.D. 1924 
",4" to COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT 
"A" to S.P. 761, 
(2) 
The 
projected 
performance 
indicator 
for 
the 
related reduction in local property tax commitment to 
fund the cost of the essential programs and services 
described in Title 
20-A, 
section 15671 is 
a 
local 
property tax commitment that is less than the local 
property tax commitment made in fiscal year 2006-07. 
C. 
For fiscal year 2008-09: 
( 1) 
The benchmark for the state share of the total 
cost of the essential programs and services described 
in Title 20-A, section 15671 is 52.5%; and 
(2) 
The 
projected 
performance 
indicator 
for 
the 
related reduction in local property tax commitment to 
fund the cost of the essential programs and services 
described in Title 
20-A, 
section 15671 is 
a 
local 
property tax commitment that is less than the local 
property tax commitment made in fiscal year 2007-08. 
D. 
For fiscal year 2009-10: 
(1) 
The benchmark for the state share of the total 
cost of the essential programs and services described 
in Title 20-A, section 15671 is 55.0%; and 
(2) 
The 
projected 
performance 
indicator 
for 
the 
related reduction in local property tax commitment to 
fund the cost of the essential programs and services 
described in Title 
20-A, 
section 15671 is 
a 
local 
property tax commitment that is less than the local 
property tax commitment made in fiscal year 2008-09. 
4. 
Annual report. 
The committee shall provide an annual 
report to the Governor and to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial 
affairs, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs and the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
taxation matters 
no later than September 1st in each of the 
fiscal years in which it meets pursuant to subsection 2. 
The 
committee's annual report must include the following: 
A. 
The information developed by the Department of Education 
in accordance with subsection 2; 
B. 
A progress report of the actions of state and local 
officials 
in 
accomplishing 
the 
benchmarks 
and 
projected 
performance indicators specified in subsection 3; 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE 
AMENDMENT 
L.D. 1924 
to COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT 
"A" to S.P. 761, 
C. 
Analyses of and findings with respect to the relevant 
factors, 
including 
any 
extenuating 
or 
exceptional 
circumstances, 
that contributed to the 
accomplishment or 
failure 
to 
accomplish 
the 
benchmarks 
and 
projected 
performance indicators specified in subsection 3 by state 
and local officials: and 
D. 
Recommendations, 
including any recommended changes in 
law, related to the considerations described in subsection 
2, 
paragraphs 
A to 
D and 
the 
benchmarks 
and 
project~d 
performance indicators described in subsection 3. , 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment 
replaces 
the 
provision of 
the 
committee 
amendment that established specific performance indicators for 
the related reduction in local property tax commitments for the 
fiscal year 2005-06 to 2009-10 period with projected performance 
indicators that are based on a reduction in the local property 
tax 
commitment 
to 
fund 
the 
cost of 
essential 
programs 
and 
services that is less than the local property tax commitment made 
in the prior fiscal year. 
The amendment also adds a new provision regarding the annual 
report required from the Municipal Budget Analysis Committee by 
requiring that the annual report also include recommendations, 
including any recommended changes in the law, 
related to the 
level of state funding, the related local property tax commitment 
required to fund the costs of kindergarten to grade 12 public 
education, municipal services and the local share of the county 
budget and the benchmarks and projected performance indicators 
established for the fiscal year 2005-06 to 2009-10 period. 
SPONSORED BY: 
(Senator BRENNAN) 
COUNTY: 
Cumberland 
SENATE AMENDMENT