"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to establish a ceiling that limits the growth in state spending to a percentage rate equal to 2/3 of the average real personal income growth rate plus 2/3 of the average forecasted inflation rate, to require a 2/3 vote of the Legislature to approve General Fund expenditures that exceed this ceiling and to require that surplus funds be distributed: first, to a capital construction and improvements reserve fund and a budget stabilization fund; 2nd, to reduce the unfunded liabilities of the Maine State Retirement System and to conform Maine tax law with the United States Internal Revenue Code; and 3rd, to the people of this State?"

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

Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.

SUMMARY

This constitutional resolution establishes a ceiling on the growth in state spending to a percentage rate equal to 2/3 of the average real personal income growth rate plus 2/3 of the average forecasted inflation rate, requires a 2/3 vote of the Legislature to approve General Fund expenditures that exceed this ceiling and