Sec. 5. 30-A MRSA §924, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6, c. 9, §2 and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is further amended to read:

2. Reduce tax levy. After restoring the contingent account under subsection 1, the county commissioners shall use any unencumbered surplus funds to reduce the tax levy in the ensuing year as provided in this subsection. On the first day of each fiscal year, the county commissioners shall use determine what portion of any remaining unencumbered surplus funds in excess of 10% of the amount to be raised by taxation in that year must be used to reduce the tax levy.

Sec. 6. 30-A MRSA §7502, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6, c. 9, §2 and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is further amended to read:

2. Prior receipts and surpluses. All money received by the county for municipal services for the unorganized territory before September 23, 1983, and remaining unspent shall must be deposited into the fund. Any surplus in revenue remaining in the fund at the end of the year, not including amounts allocated to the contingent account or set aside in capital reserve accounts established after November 1, 1983, which that is in excess of 10% of the amount of expenditures for that year as determined by the county commissioners, shall must be used to reduce the amount to be collected in taxes during the next year.

SUMMARY

This bill makes 2 changes in the administration of county government. First, it repeals a provision of law that requires a substantial reduction in the pay of county commissioners in counties that hire a county administrator. Second, it establishes the same probationary periods for county employees as those for municipal employees. Third, it gives county commissioners discretion at the beginning of the fiscal year in determining what portion of surplus funds may be used to reduce the tax levy.