HP1112, LD 1590, item 8, 123rd Maine State Legislature

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Amend the amendment by inserting after section 1 the following:
‘Sec. 2. Maximum disparity between mill rates. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning July 1, 2008, no municipality may pay as part of its local allocation more than twice the mill rate of any other municipality within that same school administrative unit.
1. If, after the essential programs and services total local allocation has been determined by the Department of Education, a municipality is determined to pay as part of its local allocation more than twice the mill rate of any municipality within that same school administrative unit, the department shall increase the lower mill rate and decrease the higher mill rate until the disparity falls within the maximum 2:1 ratio.
2. A municipality within a school district is entitled to a transition adjustment determined by the Department of Education if the municipality has, by operation of subsection 1, an adverse fiscal impact resulting in:
A. A mill rate increase for local allocation at or in excess of 0.5 mills; and
B. A resulting local contribution increase greater than 5%.
No later than January 31, 2008, the Commissioner of Education shall submit to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs proposed legislation necessary to implement this section. Following receipt and review of the proposed legislation, the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs may submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment requires that no municipality may pay as part of its local allocation more than twice the mill rate of any other municipality within that same school administrative unit and allows a transition adjustment for a municipality adversely affected to be determined by the Department of Education. The amendment also directs that the Commissioner of Education shall submit to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs proposed legislation necessary to implement this requirement.

HP1112, LR 2320, item 8, First Regular Session - 123rd Legislature, page