AUGUSTA (AP) – The Maine Legislature passed a constitutional amendment on Tuesday that’s closely tied to the property tax relief bill lawmakers enacted earlier this year. With the unanimous votes in the House and Senate, the bill must now go to the state’s voters.

The purpose of the amendment is to preserve wharves that face closure because of sharply rising coastal property values. The loss of wharves hurts Maine’s fishing industry.

The amendment that passed Tuesday would allow towns to assess waterfront land used for commercial fishing activities based on the current use of that property even as surrounding property values rise. Similar tax treatment is allowed for farms, open space and woodlands.

Several other proposed amendments related to the tax relief measure have been killed or remain in committee.

The amendments were sent to the Legislature by a special tax-study committee after it finished work on Gov. John Baldacci’s property tax measure in January. That law increases school subsidies, imposes local and state government spending caps and broadens existing property tax programs.

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Secretary of state escapes serious injuries in I-95 wreck

AUGUSTA (AP) – Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap escaped serious injuries when his pickup truck spun out of control and was wrecked Tuesday on an icy highway in Etna. Dunlap’s was one of several accidents reported by police on ice-slicked highways in the state.

The state’s top motor vehicle official sustained a few scratches, but walked away from the accident and was at work in the capital later in the morning. Dunlap was wearing a safety belt.

The Old Town resident was on his way to Augusta when his pickup truck hit a patch of ice and spun around and tumbled into a rock ledge along Interstate 95.

The National Weather Service said many areas of the state reported freezing drizzle.

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