Taxes and Budget

A Quick Peek

How to improve the Maine economy is one of our biggest challenges. Maine’s tax structure needs to be revamped so that the economy can be revitalized, so that essential services can continue and so that taxpayers have some relief. It sounds impossible. It isn’t.

The Big Picture

Working on the Ellsworth City Council made me understand just how much state decisions affect local budgets and local government. From school funding to property taxes, local officials have to make tough decisions because of state laws and budgets.

As the representative of Ellsworth, Otis and Trenton, I’ll work hard for a balanced budget and taxes that are more fair and reflective of local values.

Did you know that the public can speak at the Appropriations Committee about each proposed budget? You can make your voice heard.

Part of Maine’s budget problem is that the state has a narrow revenue base. Just a few very high taxes fund schools and local and state governments. It’s mostly income tax, property tax, and sales tax.  While other states tax approximately 164 categories of items with its sales tax, Maine only taxes 24. And a lot of those are big-ticket items like cars, appliances, lumber. When things are bad sales on those expensive items plummet. People aren’t going to buy a new SUV when they’re having a hard time heating their homes. People aren’t going to build houses when times are tough. That’s a big part of our problem.

The Plan

• Shifting the tax burden to non-residents would help provide tax relief to working Maine families and older adults.
• Rethinking how taxes affect incomes in hopes of increasing the capital needed to invest in small business and creating a more business-friendly atmosphere for companies starting up and thinking of expanding into Maine. As it is now, our tax structure keeps people from coming here. I have a friend who would love to start a bio-tech company in Maine. He vacations here with his wife and kids every summer. He adores the state.
  “I can’t do it, though,” he told me. “My business would never survive there.”
  That’s got to change.
• Cutting Maine’s governmental spending.
• Reform the Maine Income Tax so that it’s simple and understandable.

Learn More

• MRS Tax Relief
• Maine Economy & Demographics
• Maine Revenue Service
• Maine Center for Economic Policy
• Fair Budget and Taxes
• Maine Homestead Exemption Application
• Maine Residents Property Tax Relief Program
• Legislature Passes Maine Property Tax Bill
  

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