Resolve, To Establish a Committee To Examine Issues Relating to the Administration and Distribution of Municipal Revenue Sharing
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0355
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: BROWNE, DAMON, AUSTIN, BLANCHARD, CEBRA, FLOOD, HOTHAM, PLUMMER, RICHARDSON, SCHATZ

Legislative Document 
No. 355 
H.P.285 
House of Representatives, January 25,2007 
Resolve, To Establish a Committee To Examine Issues Relating to 
the Administration and Distribution of Municipal Revenue Sharing 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative BROWNE of Vassalboro. 
Cosponsored by Senator DAMON of Hancock and 
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Mll..LICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: AUSTIN of Gray, BLANCHARD of Old Town, CEBRA of Naples, FLOOD 
of Winthrop, HOTHAM of Dixfield, PLUMMER of Windham, RICHARDSON of Warren, 
SCHATZ of Blue Hill. 
Primed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day 
period in order to provide sufficient time for meetings and for the preparation of the 
report of the committee; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Sec. 1. 
Revenue sharing committee established. 
Resolved: 
That the 
Treasurer of State shall convene a municipal revenue sharing committee, referred to in 
this resolve as "the committee," composed of 6 municipal officials interested in the 
administration and distribution of municipal revenue sharing, with 3 of those officials 
recommended by the Maine Service Centers Coalition and 3 of those officials 
representing rural and suburban municipalities and recommended by the Maine 
Municipal Association; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Committee duties. Resolved: That the committee shall examine and 
make recommendations regarding the following issues: 
1. The reasons for the general reductions in the distribution of municipal revenue 
sharing in fiscal year 2007 and the effect of those reductions on compliance with the 
municipal property tax levy limitation established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
30-A, section 5721-A; 
2. The reasons for the volatility in the distribution of municipal revenue sharing in 
fiscal year 2007, including but not limited to the legislative adjustments to the Revenue 
Sharing I and Revenue Sharing II distribution pools, the legislative reductions to the 
Revenue Sharing I distribution pool, the definition of "disproportionate tax burden" and 
annual adjustments to state valuation; 
3. The reasons the Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Local and Regional Services 
has failed to be properly capitalized from the Local Government Fund as directed by the 
voters on June 8, 2004; and 
4. 
The obstacles to efficiently administering the municipal property tax levy 
limitation established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 5721-A, 
particularly with respect to the net new funding calculation, that are related to the 
administration and distribution of municipal revenue sharing; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Reports. Resolved: That the committee shall submit a report of its 
findings and recommendations no later than December 15, 2007 to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs. Following receipt and review of the 
final report, the joint standing committee may submit legislation based on the report to 
the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. 
Page I - 123LR1l34(Ol)-1 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited m the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes a municipal revenue sharing committee to examine various 
issues relating to municipal revenue sharing and report to the Joint Standing Committee 
on Appropriations and Financial Affairs no later than December 15,2007.