LEWISTON – A plan for a gubernatorial forum devoted to property tax reform and relief for Maine municipalities won’t happen – at least not in Lewiston.

The city could never make the schedules among the five candidates work out, according to City Administrator Jim Bennett. With less than a month left before voters will select their governor, there just wasn’t time.

“All of the candidates are pretty much booked every possible time between now and the election,” Bennett said. The only available date is Halloween, Oct. 31.

“As much irony as that date holds, and as important as the topic is, it’s my recommendation to let them know that we won’t be holding it.”

The forum tied into the City Council’s decision in May to delay a property revaluation that would have shifted the tax burden onto residential property owners. Councilors pointed to the shift as evidence that Maine’s tax system was broken, and they called on state leaders to come up with solutions.