AUGUSTA — A proposal for a referendum asking voters if they want to cut taxes and government spending was nixed by the Maine Senate on Wednesday. The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 21-13, mostly along party lines, in favor of rejecting the bill backed by Republican Gov. Paul LePage. Under the measure, the state would ask voters if […]
taxes
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine House OKs bill targeting foreign tax havens
AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers gave the first nod on Tuesday to a bill aimed at preventing corporations from avoiding paying taxes by stashing their profits in overseas tax havens — a move that could generate millions in extra revenue for the state, supporters said. The measure is targeted at multinational companies that hold their Maine-made […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Democrats show little support for LePage’s tax cut referendum
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to ask voters if they want to cut taxes and government spending got a cool response from Democrats on a legislative panel that began eyeing the bill Wednesday. LePage wants the state to hold a referendum in June asking voters if they want to lower income tax rates, implement […]
Posted inOxford Hills, River Valley
Andover rejects revaluation, OKs ‘ransom money’ for elementary school
ANDOVER — By a wide margin, voters at Saturday’s annual town meeting again rejected a town-wide property revaluation and the $70,000 of taxpayer money requested to fund it. Voters approved a $180,000 payment to the SAD 44 school district to keep Andover Elementary School open, and voted to raise $20,000 for future repairs to Farmers […]
Posted inOxford Hills
Hebron voters increase spending on firefighting, roads, cemeteries
HEBRON — Voters at Saturday’s annual town meeting passed a budget of about $740,000, but some raised concerns about the $770,000 available in the General Fund. “We have a ton of money in the General Fund,” said resident Randy Swift as voters were asked to approve requests for increases in several budgets. Swift said he […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
East Millinocket lays off 4 in response to mill’s nonpayment of tax debt
EAST MILLINOCKET — Town leaders have laid off four town workers and rewritten a job description for a fifth due to Great Northern Paper Co. LLC’s nonpayment of its $657,900 property tax bill, officials said Thursday. Two full-time Police Department positions, a part-time fill-in and a full-time “floater” in the Public Works Department were cut. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage proposes referendum that asks if voters want to lower taxes
AUGUSTA — Maine Gov. Paul LePage wants to ask voters whether the state should lower taxes and reduce government spending. The Republican governor introduced a bill on Tuesday for the state to hold a referendum in June asking voters if they favor lowering income tax rates, implementing alternative taxes and reducing overall tax revenues and […]
Posted inLetters
J. Keenan: Homesteader hammered
The number of vacant, dilapidated homes facing foreclosure in Auburn has doubled in the past nine months, while the city manager and planning director say we are just beginning to see the results of the recession. There has been a 10 percent increase in the price for water and sewer; a 10 percent increase in […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Tax prep program kicking off for 2014
LEWISTON — This year’s Twin Cities’ income tax filing support program will focus on financial literacy as much as filling out the right forms. City officials kicked off Take the Money; You’ve Earned on Tuesday morning in Lewiston City Hall. Volunteers from the Lewiston-Auburn CA$H Coalition will help low- or moderate-income residents with tax forms […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage says Maine must find $119 million to balance budget
AUGUSTA — Republican and House Minority Leader Kenneth Fredette, R-Newport, said late Monday afternoon that new data show a general fund revenue shortfall of $119 million in the two-year budget that started July 1, 2013, and ends June 30, 2015. The Department of Health and Human Services accounts for the vast majority of the shortfall. […]