Local government in Maine provides many essential services its citizens, including road construction and maintenance, solid waste disposal, water utilities and waste water treatment, police and fire protection and emergency rescue, land use planning and building inspection, welfare, and public education for grades Kindergarten through 12.

Municipal government in Maine enjoys a special authority called “home rule.” This authority is given to the towns and cities of Maine in the state’s Constitution. Under “home rule,” municipalities may govern themselves in any way that is not denied them by state or federal law. This authority sets Maine apart from many other states where the authority of municipal government is exactly the reverse. Home rule finds its origin in the state’s reliance on community, an historical tendency to devolve the power of government to its most local level, and a deep respect for the common sense and good judgment of Maine’s citizens.

As its name implies, local government is run by and for its citizens. Whether as a selectmen, councilor, or school board member, people seek to be elected for municipal office out of a sense of civic duty and to make a positive difference for their community. This spirit of community volunteerism also applies to the people who agree to be appointed to the local planning board, appeals board, or the numerous other committees that collaboratively work together to make their local government what it is. From running for elected office to volunteering to assist in the publication of a municipal newsletter, there are numerous opportunities to serve local government.

For more information on how you can get involved in local government, contact Maine Municipal Association, 60 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330, visit www.memun.org or send e-mail to ResourceCenter@memun.org.

Androscoggin County

Address:

2 Turner Street

Auburn, Maine 04210

Tel: (207) 784-8390

Fax: (207) 782-5367

Androscoggin County, incorporated in 1854, is a county in southern Maine that hosts two of Maine’s largest cities, Lewiston and Auburn, also known as the “Twin Cities.” The county is centrally located and is approximately one-half hour from both Portland, Maine’s largest city, and Augusta, Maine’s capital. The Maine Turnpike cuts directly through Androscoggin County, offering easy access to its major cities.

Androscoggin County Facts

Population: 105,259

Land Area: 459 sq. mi.

Incorporation date: 1854

County seat: Auburn

Cities, towns and townships in Androscoggin County include Auburn, Durham, Greene, Leeds, Lewiston, Lisbon, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Mechanic Falls, Minot, Poland, Sabattus, Turner and Wales.

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Cumberland County

Address:

142 Federal Street

Portland, Maine 04101-4196

Tel: (207) 871-8380

Fax: (207) 871-8292

Website: www.cumberlandcounty.org

Cumberland County, incorporated in 1760, is home to Maine’s most populous city, Portland, which is also its county seat. The County was named after William, Duke of Cumberland, who was the son of King George II. The County is approximately 850 square miles in area.

Cumberland County facts

Population: 265,612

Land area: 853 sq. mi.

Incorporation date: 1760

County seat: Portland

Cumberland County includes the cities, towns and townships of Baldwin, Bridgton, Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, Casco, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Frye Island, Gorham, Gray, Harpswell, Harrison, Long Island, Naples, New Gloucester, North Yarmouth, Portland, Pownal, Raymond, Scarborough, Sebago, South Portland, Standish, Westbrook, Windham and Yarmouth.

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Kennebec County

Address:

125 State Street

Augusta, Maine 04330

Tel: (207) 622-0971

Fax: (207) 623-4083

Kennebec County, incorporated in 1799, is located in inland Maine and covers 879 square miles of the state. Augusta, the state capital and one of the largest cities in Maine, is in Kennebec county and is the county seat. Government is the largest employer in the county, but other growing industries include high-tech manufacturing, utilities, retail, health care, and financial institutions. Much of the county is rural and abundant lakes, rivers, streams, ponds and rolling hills in the area provide recreational opportunities and attract summer visitors. Augusta offers cultural and historical destinations such as the State House, Old Fort Western, and the Maine State Museum.

County facts

Population: 120,986

Land area: 951 sq. mi.

Incorporation date: 1799

County seat: Augusta

Municipalities in Kennebec County include Albion, Augusta, Belgrade, Benton, Chelsea, China, Clinton, Farmingdale, Fayette, Gardiner, Hallowell, Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, Mount Vernon, Oakland, Pittston, Randolph, Readfield, Rome, Sidney, Vassalboro, Vienna, Waterville, Wayne, West Gardiner, Windsor, Winslow and Winthrop.

Interested in checking out who lives in a particular neighborhood? Sex offender registry info can be found at the Maine Sex Offender Registry online search service at http://sor.informe.org/sor/

Find out where to take your driver’s test or renew your driver’s license. Bureau of Motor Vehicles information for the state of Maine can be found online at www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/locations. Additional online services at maine.gov include Hunting and fishing licenses, ATV/snowmobile registration renewal and Burning Permits.

Department of Health and Human Services information for the state of Maine can be found online at www.maine.gov/dhhs/DHSaddresses.htm. Online services include Adoption Search, Water Test Kits, Order Vital Records, Assisted Living Search, Health Care Search, Home Health Comparison, Medicare Savings Calculator, Senior Dining Services, Subsidized Housing, and more.

Consumers have the right to register their phone number on the FTC’s Do Not Call List. You can log on to www.donotcall.gov to do so. In addition Maine State Law provides for penalties against telemarketers who call after being told to stop.

Sales/Use & Service Provider Tax Rates:

General, Service Provider & Use 5%

Lodging & Prepared Food 7%

Short Term Auto Rental 10%

Find more information for your area such as Public events, Public libraries and library events, Walking paths/trails, Restaurants, State parks and historic sites, and Weather forecast, visit Maine.gov.

– You can find contact information for elected government officials at Maine.gov.

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