Posted inMaine, sj-web

Chat archive: Should Maine tax its nonprofits?

Live Blog Taxing Nonprofits in Maine   AUGUSTA – A tax reform plan by Gov. Paul LePage as part of his 2016-2017 two-year budget proposal is drawing plenty of attention. Among other things the plan would allow cities and towns to apply a property tax to nonprofit organizations that hold more than $500,000 in property. […]

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Posted inLewiston-Auburn

Gov. LePage’s plan: How much nonprofits would pay

LEWISTON — If Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to tax nonprofits became law, Lewiston would get $3.3 million a year in added property taxes from its two hospitals and Bates College. Central Maine Medical Center’s property tax bill would be $1.17 million a year, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center’s would be $535,000, and Bates College would […]

Posted inMaine

Democrats leery of LePage’s proposal to cut income taxes

AUGUSTA — Legislative Democrats were hesitant Thursday to embrace a proposal to eliminate Maine’s income tax, which could be a key pillar in the next budget proposal from Republican Gov. Paul LePage. LePage’s next two-year budget is due to lawmakers Friday. On Wednesday, the governor was clear that the state’s income tax was in his […]

Posted inLewiston-Auburn

Consistent revenue, programs top Lewiston’s wish list for state legislators

LEWISTON — City officials may not be expecting anything special under the tree on Christmas, but they did unleash a big list of wishes for state legislators for the coming year. City Administrator Ed Barrett, city councilors and Lewiston school officials asked for everything from more municipal revenue to more authority to deal with truant […]

Posted inLewiston-Auburn

Auburn committee weighing recycling, pay-per-bag options

AUBURN — Expanding the city’s recycling program could save up to $7 million over 10 years — if residents are willing to purchase special trash bags. Members of the city’s Solid Waste and Recycling Committee outlined three basic options for Auburn’s trash and recycling program going forward. The city could continue the twice-monthly collections, switch […]

Posted inFranklin

More money sought for winter roads in Strong

STRONG — Selectmen have scheduled a special town meeting this month to ask for $25,000 more for winter road maintenance. At its Tuesday night meeting, the board voted to have a 6 p.m. meeting Monday, Dec. 29, to approve funds to pay for unexpected costs related to bad weather, including overtime for employees. The early […]

Posted inMaine

Court says Maine Municipal Association can spend on campaigns

PORTLAND — The Maine Municipal Association claimed legal victory Tuesday after a Superior Court justice ruled in the association’s favor in a lawsuit filed by the conservative Maine Heritage Policy Center in 2010. An 18-page ruling issued in Kennebec County Superior Court seems to have closed the door on the case that accused the MMA […]