An Act To Fully Restore State-Municipal Revenue Sharing for Fiscal Year 2018-19
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0133
Committee: Taxation
Sponsors: EVANGELOS, PLUECKER, MIRAMANT, BRENNAN, DEVIN, DOORE, MAXMIN, RISEMAN, STANLEY, ZEIGLER
Amends: 30-A MRSA §5681

Legislative Document
No. 133
H.P. 115
House of Representatives, January 17, 2019
An Act To Fully Restore State-Municipal Revenue Sharing for 
Fiscal Year 2018-19
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Taxation suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative EVANGELOS of Friendship.
Cosponsored by Representative PLUECKER of Warren, Senator MIRAMANT of Knox and
Representatives: BRENNAN of Portland, DEVIN of Newcastle, DOORE of Augusta, 
MAXMIN of Nobleboro, RISEMAN of Harrison, STANLEY of Medway, ZEIGLER of 
Montville.
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, state-municipal revenue sharing was decreased for fiscal years 2015-16, 
2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 from 5% to 2%; and
Whereas, the decrease in funds shared with municipalities has had a drastic effect 
on municipalities and their ability to provide services to their residents; and
Whereas, although the percentage of revenue sharing is scheduled to return to 5% 
beginning July 1, 2019, it is necessary that these funds be restored as soon as possible to 
avoid further damage to municipalities; 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,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  30-A MRSA §5681, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. K, §1, is 
further amended to read:
5.  Transfers to funds.  No later than the 10th day of each month, the State 
Controller shall transfer to the Local Government Fund 5% of the receipts during the 
previous month from the taxes imposed under Title 36, Parts 3 and 8, and Title 36, 
section 2552, subsection 1, paragraphs A to F and L, and credited to the General Fund 
without any reduction, except that for fiscal years 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 and 
2018-19 the amount transferred is 2% of the receipts during the previous month from the 
taxes imposed under Title 36, Parts 3 and 8, and Title 36, section 2552, subsection 1, 
paragraphs A to F and L, and credited to the General Fund without any reduction, and 
except that the postage, state cost allocation program and programming costs of 
administering state-municipal revenue sharing may be paid by the Local Government 
Fund.  A percentage share of the amounts transferred to the Local Government Fund each 
month must be transferred to the Disproportionate Tax Burden Fund and distributed 
pursuant to subsection 4-B as follows:
C.  For months beginning on or after July 1, 2009 but before July 1, 2010, 15%;
D.  For months beginning on or after July 1, 2010 but before July 1, 2011, 16%;
E.  For months beginning on or after July 1, 2011 but before July 1, 2012, 17%;
F.  For months beginning on or after July 1, 2012 but before July 1, 2013, 18%;
G.  For months beginning on or after July 1, 2013 but before July 1, 2014, 19%; and
H.  For months beginning on or after July 1, 2014, 20%.
Sec. 2.  Retroactivity.  This Act applies retroactively to July 1, 2018.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill restores state-municipal revenue sharing to 5% from 2% for the entire fiscal 
year 2018-19.  The law currently requires revenue sharing to revert to 5% beginning July 
1, 2019.