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| Sec. 4. 36 MRSA c. 907-A is enacted to read: |
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| MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE |
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| | For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise | indicates, the terms used in this chapter have the same meaning | as in chapter 907. |
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| §6232.__Municipal authority |
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| | The legislative body of a municipality may by ordinance adopt | a program to provide benefits to persons with homesteads in the | municipality.__A municipality may choose to restrict the program | to persons who are at least 62 years of age. |
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| | 1.__Conditions of program.__A program adopted under this | section must: |
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| A.__Require that the claimant has a homestead in the | municipality; |
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| B.__Provide benefits for both owners and renters of | homesteads; and |
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| C.__Calculate benefits in a way that provides greater | benefits proportionally to claimants with lower incomes in | relation to their property taxes accrued or rent | constituting property taxes accrued. |
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| | 2.__Relationship to state program.__Benefits received under a | program adopted by a municipality under this section are in | addition to benefits provided under chapter 907.__A municipality | may, but is not required to, provide that: |
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| A.__Benefits under the program are equal to a percentage of | the benefits received by the claimant under chapter 907; |
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| B.__The amount of benefits received under the program may | not exceed 50% of property taxes or rent constituting | property taxes paid on a homestead; or |
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| C.__The amount of benefits received under the program | together with benefits received under chapter 907 may not | exceed 60% of property taxes or rent constituting property | taxes paid on a homestead. |
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