Signs are evident that a contentious, June 8 ballot question is around the corner.

In recent weeks, the Maine Municipal Association launched television ads featuring Mechanic Falls Town Manager Dana Lee urging voters to support Tuesday’s Question 1 to provide property tax relief. If passed, Question 1 would mandate state taxpayers to pay more of education costs, about $240 million a year.

Supporters say that would lower property taxes; opponents say there’s no guarantee that municipalities would use that money to lower taxes.

In the ad, Lee says it’s not right that people are losing their homes to foreclosures because they can’t afford their taxes. That’s no way to pay for education, he said.

Responding, Dana Connors of Vote No on Question 1 called the ad “bogus,” full of “fear mongering.” The MMA “should be ashamed of the phony claim that homes are being taken to fund local education,” Connors said.

The other Dana bristled at that, saying that in Mechanic Falls eight homeowners have lost their homes since 1997 because they couldn’t afford their taxes. He released a list of those homeowners. Some elderly have had to sell family rings or old books to pay their taxes and keep their homes. “I’m not hyping this. (Connors) should walk a mile in my shoes.” If he has to foreclose on someone’s home, Lee said, “It’s a miserable day.”

Meanwhile the Maine Education Association has mailed thousands of brochures to targeted households – those they thought they could convince – urging voters to vote yes.

The no side also has been airing television ads. Theirs are called “Fooled 2” and feature Gov. John Baldacci.

Geiger: 1 would raise taxes

Peter Geiger of Geiger in Lewiston said last week that Question 1 would raise taxes if passed by about $245 million a year, and there would be no guarantee that property taxes would go down.

“Question 1 is not good tax policy,” said Geiger, who has long worked to raise student aspirations and who chairs the Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education. The language behind the referendum does not mandate that municipalities getting more education money must lower taxes, he said.

Responding, Michael Starn of the MMA said it was the intent of Question 1’s founders to use the extra state money to lower taxes, although the law does not force that. If Question 1 is passed, Starn said state lawmakers could pass a law next year mandating that municipalities use the extra money to lower taxes.

Last week, the Lewiston City Council pledged that if Question 1 passes, the city will return most of that money to taxpayers. If Question 1 passes, Lewiston would get an extra $3.8 million. Of that, not all but most – $2.5 million – would be returned to taxpayers, reducing taxes by 6.1 percent, said City Administrator Jim Bennett.

Yes, no forces

Groups behind Yes on Question 1 are basically teachers, administrators and municipalities.

Organizations backing Question 1 include: MMA, Maine Education Association (a teachers union), Maine Service Centers Coalition, Maine School Superintendents Association, Maine School Boards Association, Maine Principals Association and the Maine PTA.

Forces behind No on Question 1 seem to be everyone else and read like a who’s who of Maine: Gov. John Baldacci, the Maine Chamber of Commerce and L.L. Bean. And there are numerous businesses and social organizations on the “no” side, some that don’t typically work together; most fear cuts in services or higher taxes. These include the Maine People’s Alliance and National Semiconductor; the Maine Association of Realtors and the Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods; and the Maine Children’s Alliance and Maine Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association.

Other “no” advocates include Tambrands, International Paper, Dead River Co., Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education, the Maine State Board of Education, the Maine Health Care Association, the Maine Merchants Association, the Maine Women’s Lobby, Fraser Paper, Unum Provident and Verizon.

By staff writers Bonnie Washuk and Christopher Williams