Tax panel rejects elimination of revenue sharing on party line vote

The Taxation Committee on Friday rejected the proposed elimination of revenue sharing in Gov. Paul LePage?s $6.3 billion biennial budget.The panel voted 6-3 to remove the proposed elimination of revenue sharing from the budget because it would lead to property tax increases for residents. The proposed elimination of revenue sharing is part of the $425 million tax shift to municipalities in the LePage budget and drew intense opposition from municipal officials and property taxpayers.

Five Democrats on the committee, along with an unenrolled member, Rep. Joseph Brooks of Winterport, voted to remove the revenue sharing component from the budget. The three Republicans present voted against the motion.

Over the weekend LePage voiced his disapproval in his radio address declaring that his budget has been the target of Democrats.

?Even a former governor is on the attack. But these critics have yet to submit their own budget proposal,? said LePage.

In state government the governor proposes the budget. It is up to different committees to discuss the different elements of the budget and then to recommend the passage of those proposals, amend them or reject them. The budget appropriations committee is looking into different areas of potential consolidation that could be implemented.

Rep. Adam Goode, House chair of the Taxation Committee, noted that property taxes are the most regressive form of taxation. He said Democrats on the committee will do all they can to avoid property tax hikes.Goode pointed out the budget gap results from unfunded tax cuts largely benefitting the wealthy passed in 2011 by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Those unfunded tax breaks go into effect this year.

?Our middle class needs a boost right now ? not a punch in the gut,? said Goode. ?We cannot increase the burden on the middle class to finance tax breaks for the wealthy.?

House Majority Leader Seth Berry said it?s unacceptable for the state to pass on difficult decisions and leave municipalities to deal with a massive tax shift, particularly when state support to local governments is already at decades-long lows.

?Republicans ordered up a tax break largely for the wealthy without knowing how they were going to pay for it,? said Berry. ?Now, the governor is passing the tab to Maine communities and the middle-class through his budget proposals.?

Source: http://maineinsights.com/perma/tax-panel-rejects-elimination-of-revenue-sharing-on-party-line-vote

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