Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0787
Committee: Taxation
Sponsors: PERCY

Legislative Document 
No. 787 
H.P.603 
House of Representatives, February 15,2007 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Change the Assessment of Lands Used for Long-term 
Ownership 
Reference to the Committee on Taxation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative PERCY of Phippsburg. 
PrllltOO on ret:ycleu parer 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: 
Two thirds of each branch of ~h:.' 
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be 
proposed: 
Constitution, Art. IX, §8, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
6. Long-term ownership of property. Beginning with property tax year 2008, the 
Legislature has the power to provide that municipalities may reduce taxes on real 
property if the property owner agrees to retain ownership of the property within the 
owner's immediate family for a period of time not less than 5 years in accordance with 
criteria adopted by the Legislature. 
; and be it further 
II 
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 held in the month 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: 
"00 you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to provide the Legislature the 
authority to allow a municipality to reduce property taxes on real property if the 
owner agrees to retain ownership of the property within the owner's immediate family 
for a period of not less than 5 years?" 
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. 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 
I 
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 amends the Constitution of Maine to provide the 
Legislature the authority to allow a municipality to reduce property taxes on real property 
if the owner agrees to retain ownership of the property within the owner's immediate 
family for a period of not less than 5 years. 
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