AUGUSTA — Democratic legislative leaders fired a shot directly at Gov. Paul LePage’s tax reform proposal Thursday with the release of their own plan, which includes lower income tax cuts than the governor proposes but is more aggressive in its effort to soften Mainers’ property tax burden. “While Democratic leaders commend the governor for initiating […]
taxes
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Durham voters approve tax increase
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect a corrected vote on Article 7 of the meeting warrant and for the correct number of residents attending the meeting. DURHAM — A scant 124 residents out of more than 3,299 registered voters turned out for the 227th annual town meeting Saturday, spending more then four […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine House votes to override veto on vehicle tax bill
AUGUSTA — The Maine House has overridden Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill that will reduce taxes and fees on certain vehicles adapted to serve people with disabilities. The Democratic-led House unanimously voted in favor of overturning LePage’s veto of Rep. Arthur Verow’s bill on Thursday. Verow says the measure will encourage more […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Peter Kowalski: Adjust Maine’s tax structure without penalizing nonprofits
The word “nonprofit” generally is used to describe an organization that works to serve a public purpose, rather than to provide financial benefit to any particular individual, corporation or entity. Nonprofits are granted an exemption from taxes when they have charitable, religious, educational or other purposes organized around a cause, mission or community need and […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine tax plan analysis fuels debate over LePage budget
AUGUSTA — A new analysis of Gov. Paul LePage’s ambitious tax overhaul proposal is bolstering supporters and opponents as the first votes on the Republican’s plan grow near. LePage hopes to slash the personal and corporate income tax while raising the sales tax and applying it to more services. The governor says a report released […]
Posted inMaine
LePage defends tax proposals in Auburn
AUBURN — Gov. Paul LePage pitched his plan to reform Maine’s tax system and realign the state’s spending priorities in a “town hall” forum at Edward Little High School on Wednesday. LePage announced he intends to put a statewide ballot measure before voters in 2016 that would ask them to amend the Maine Constitution to […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Stanley Tetenman: Governor’s tax proposal would shift the burden
Gov. Paul LePage’s tax proposal will shift many costs to municipalities, likely causing significant property tax increases. It will shift more tax burden to lower and middle income taxpayers while giving disproportionate benefits to higher income earners. The claim is made that elimination of revenue sharing will be more than offset by the proposed decrease […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage vows to keep fighting to kill Maine income tax
LePage spoke first at a luncheon held by the Maine Heritage Policy Center, a conservative think tank, at the Cross Insurance Center. About 70 people attended, each paying between $45 and $55 for the right to hear the governor’s speech. The governor’s sales pitch was roughly the same: LePage said his tax reform plan will […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage calls for no Maine taxes on military pensions
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage says that eliminating the tax on military pensions is vital to attract veterans to Maine. LePage joined dozens of veterans at the Statehouse on Tuesday to highlight the need to exempt military pensions from the state income tax, which would benefit about 8,000 Maine veterans. He says that 22 […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Medical marijuana tax puts $5 million in state treasury
PORTLAND — Maine’s medical marijuana industry accounted for up to $75 million in sales and generated as much as much as $5 million in tax revenue for the state last year. The numbers are small but experts and lawmakers say they are expected to grow, especially if Maine joins other states and legalizes recreational pot […]