RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Create a Property Tax Exemption for Property Owners with Limited Personal Property Assessments

Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be proposed:

Constitution, Art. IX, §8, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

. 6. Limited personal property exemption. Beginning with property tax year 2007, there is a property tax exemption for the personal property of a person who owns otherwise taxable personal property with a just value of no more than $20,000.

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 general election, at the next general election in the month of November following 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 provide a property tax exemption for personal property owned by persons who own no more than $20,000 of such property?"

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 purpose of this referendum.

SUMMARY

This resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Maine to provide a property tax exemption for personal property of a person who owns otherwise taxable personal property with a just value of no more than $20,000.