| HP0664 LD 965 |
Session - 127th Maine Legislature |
LR 1461 Item 1 |
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| Bill Tracking, Additional Documents | Chamber Status | ||
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Permit the Freezing of Property Taxes on the Homes of Maine Residents Who Are 65 Years of Age or Older
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. Primary residence of individuals 65 years of age or older. The Legislature has the power to provide that the taxes may not be increased on the primary residence of a person who is 65 years of age or older and who owns the residence if the residence is a single-family residence, no member of the household is less than 55 years of age and the residence is the only property owned by any household member. If the property ceases to be the primary residence of a person who is 65 years of age or older, the property must be taxed in the same manner as other property.
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to allow for freezing property taxes on primary residences of persons who are 65 years of age or older?"
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. 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 resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to allow the Legislature to enact a law freezing property taxes on a primary residence of a person who is 65 years of age or older and who owns the residence if the residence is a single-family residence, no member of the household is less than 55 years of age and the residence is the only property owned by any household member. If the property ceases to be the primary residence of a person who is 65 years of age or older, the property must be taxed in the same manner as other property.