LD 1629
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Page 49 of 55 RESOLUTION, Proposing a Competing Measure under the Constitution of Maine To Cr... Page 51 of 55
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LR 2165
Item 1

 
Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 18, Subsection 2 with
Initiated Bill 3, Legislative Document 1372 of the 121st
Legislature, "An Act To Enact the School Finance and Tax Reform
Act of 2003." It is the further intent of the Legislature that
this measure be subject to referendum as a competing measure with
that bill.

 
Sec. E-2. Statutory referendum procedure; submission at statewide election; form of
question; effective date. This Resolution must be submitted to the legal
voters of the State of Maine at the next statewide election in
the month of November following passage of this Resolution as a
competing measure with Initiated Bill 3, Legislative Document
1372 of the 121st Legislature, "An Act To Enact the School
Finance and Tax Reform Act of 2003." 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, to vote on the
acceptance or rejection of this Resolution by voting on the
following question:

 
"Do you want the State to pay 55% of the annual cost of
public education and lower property taxes by cutting
government spending?"

 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote
by ballot on this question and the question established by the
Secretary of State for Initiated Bill 3 and shall designate their
choice by a cross or check mark placed in the corresponding
square next to either the question relating to Initiated Bill 3,
the question relating to the competing measure or an option of
against both Initiated Bill 3 and the competing measure. 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 Resolution, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without
delay, and the Resolution takes effect in accordance with the
Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 19.

 
SUMMARY

 
This bill proposes a resolution as a competing measure with
Initiated Bill 3, Legislative Document 1372 of the 121st
Legislature, "An Act to Enact the School Finance Act of 2003."

 
This bill provides a comprehensive, self-funded fiscal reform
package that reduces costs of governmental services now borne by
municipalities and reduces property tax burdens. This


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