Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1494
Committee: Taxation
Sponsors: SNOWE-MELLO, COURTNEY, LANSLEY, CEBRA, HOTHAM, ROBINSON

Legislative Document 
No. 1494 
S.P.521 
March 19, 2007 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Reform Property Taxes by Limiting Increases 
Reference to the Committee on Taxation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator SNOWE-MELLO of Androscoggin. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Senator COURTNEY of York, Representative LANSLEY of Sabattus and 
Representatives: CEBRA of Naples, HOTHAM of Dixfield, ROBINSON of Raymond. 
Prin.ed on recycled paper 
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: 
Two thirds of each branch of the 
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be 
proposed: 
Constitution, Art. IX, §8, first ~ is amended to read: 
Section 8. Taxation. All taxes upon real and personal estate, assessed by authority 
of this State, shall be apportioned and assessed equally according to the just value thereof, 
except as provided in this section. 
Constitution, Art. IX, §8, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
6. Base property value. Beginning with taxes based on the status of property on or 
after April 1, 2008, taxes on real property subject to taxation in the State must be assessed 
based on the base property value of the property. For purposes of this subsection, "base 
property value" means the just value of the property on April 1, 2008 or on the Apri lIst 
preceding the date on which the owner acquired the property, whichever is later, as 
adjusted under this subsection. Unless there is a change of ownership of the property, the 
base property value on each April 1st must be adjusted only to reflect the just value of 
any improvements or degradations to the property since the last assessment and by the 
lower of the actual increase in just value and the same percentage as the rate of inflation 
as determined using a common index of consumer prices published by the Federal 
Government since the last valuation of the property. 
When there is a change of 
ownership of the property, the base property value must be adjusted to the just value of 
the property on the April 1 st preceding the change of ownership or the purchase price, 
whichever is higher. 
The Legislature may enact legislation to provide for the 
administration ofthis subsection. 
; 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 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: 
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to base the taxation of real 
property on the just value of property as of April 1, 2008 and to limit increases in the 
assessed value of property to the lower of the rate of inflation and the actual increase 
in value of property, unless there is a change of ownership?" 
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 
Page I - 123LR0380(Ol)-1 
I 
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. 
SUMMARY 
This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to establish the base 
property value for real property as the just value of the property as of April 1, 2008. 
Increases in the value of real property are limited to the just value of any improvements 
or degradations to the property and the lower of the rate of inflation and the actual 
II 
increase in value of the real property, unless there is a change of ownership. If there is a 
change of ownership, the value of the property may be changed to the higher of the actual 
purchase price and the just value of the property on the April I st preceding the change in 
ownership.