Constitution, Art. IV, Part Third, §24 is enacted to read:

Section 24.__Limitation on growth of state budget

The Legislature shall establish a General Fund expenditure ceiling that limits the growth of General Fund appropriations, excluding federal funds received by the General Fund, to the estimated rate of growth of the State's economy as measured by the sum of inflation plus the percentage change in state population in the prior calendar year.__No appropriations in excess of this ceiling may be authorized during any legislative session unless the Legislature, by a 2/3 vote of the entire elected membership of both Houses, sets forth the dollar amount and the rate by which the ceiling will be exceeded and the reasons therefore.

; and be it further

Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date. Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, at a statewide election, on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November following the passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question:

"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to establish a ceiling on state spending and require a 2/3 vote of the Legislature to approve General Fund expenditures that exceed the rate of inflation plus the percentage change in state population in the prior calendar year?"

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns and, if it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation; and be it further