TAX RELIEF

In addition to the jail consolidation plan, the Legislature passed a bill to allow municipalities to develop volunteer programs for senior citizens in order to reduce their property taxes.

Below is a list of bills and brief summaries of what they do, broken down by the same categories as above. Also below is a brief summary of actions taken by the 123rd Legislature in 2007.

Summary of New Tax Relief Laws Passed By The Maine Legislature In 2008

2080 – Reduce county property taxes and prison overcrowding by consolidating services of state and county corrections

Creates a state board responsible for collective purchasing, managing bed space, improving performance in recidivism reduction, pretrial diversion and the rate of incarceration

2202 - Allow a municipality to adopt a program to provide property tax benefits to senior citizens

Provides authority to municipalities to adopt property tax benefit programs for seniors who provide volunteer services for the town