MEASURE TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR SENIORS RECEIVES PUBLIC HEARING

Senator Dutremble sponsors bill to help seniors with rising property taxes

AUGUSTA- Democratic Senator David Dutremble of Biddeford introduced a measure yesterday to provide property tax relief to seniors.

“Many of our seniors are living on fixed incomes,” said Senator Dutremble. “Keeping their property taxes at a level that they can plan for is one step we can take to help them continue to stay in their homes.”

Last year, Governor LePage proposed a state budget that would have completely eliminated the Circuit Breaker property tax relief program for many Mainers. As part of the bipartisan budget, The Legislature accepted a Republican proposal to replace this program with the Property Tax Fairness credit.

Under the Circuit Breaker program, the average rebate was $478, and the maximum was $1600. Under the new Property Tax Fairness Credit, the maximum rebate for people over the age of 70 is $400, less than the average Circuit Breaker rebate.  Senator Dutremble’s bill would provide additional property tax relief to seniors to help compensate for the loss of the Circuit Breaker program.

A work session for LD 1646, “An Act To Provide Property Tax Relief to Seniors Residing in Maine” will be held by the Taxation Committee later this session.

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