JAY – Selectmen will consider a resolution Tuesday that declares the town’s intent to use increased funding under Question 1 for tax relief, not for new programs.

Municipalities around the state are considering a similar resolution, which would ask the governor and the Legislature to fully implement Question 1.

On June 8, Maine voters approved the referendum requiring the state to pay 55 percent of local education costs, including those for special education. The measure had been sought by municipalities because of the Legislature’s “continual inability to meet this goal, which was established in law by the Maine Legislature in 1984,” according to the proposed resolution.

The Legislature’s failure to fund the state’s portion of local education costs fully has been a primary reason for the state’s high personal property tax rate, which has overburdened residents and businesses and made Maine less competitive in attracting new economic development, the resolution states.

The resolution says Jay and other Maine municipalities have wanted to reduce property taxes but have been unable to do so without sufficient state funding for education.

The passage of Question 1 will have the effect of providing significant new funding to the town of Jay and other municipalities for local education expenses, the resolution states.

If Jay selectmen adopt the resolution at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Community Building, they are “publicly and forcefully” declaring the town’s intent to dedicate a minimum of 90 percent, and possibly 100 percent, of the new funding made available through Question 1 directly to the reduction of the tax rate, according to the resolution.

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