AUGUSTA — A task force of lawmakers, business interests, economists and tax experts continued Monday its work toward finding $40 million in savings by December, as required by the biennial budget the Democrat-led Legislature approved over the protests of Republican Gov. Paul LePage. If the Tax Expenditure Review Task Force cannot identify those savings, the […]
taxes
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
New, temporary taxes take affect today
AUGUSTA — Visitors and residents alike will see a small uptick in what they pay tableside and on some items at the cash register, as temporary increases to the sales and lodging taxes take effect statewide Tuesday. The increase, which will be seen in the bills at shops, restaurants and hotels, is an effort to offset […]
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Posted inBusiness
Sales tax on newspapers begins today
Starting Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Sun Media Group is required by law to charge sales tax on all newspaper purchases, including the Sun Journal and its weekly publications circulated in Rumford, Norway, Farmington, Bethel, Rangeley, Livermore Falls and Old Town. The percent sales tax, first proposed by Gov. Paul LePage and passed by the Legislature […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage administration considers tax-elimination proposal
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s exploration of a state tax elimination plan proposed by the conservative Maine Heritage Policy Center has legislative Democrats drawing battle lines in what looks to be a State House fight over economic development initiatives. Last week, in an interview with the Bangor Daily News, George Gervais, commissioner of Maine’s Department […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine hospitals awaiting nearly $500M from state but still seeing higher taxes, lower returns
PORTLAND — Hospitals this month will feel relief when they receive nearly $500 million from the state, but the payments don’t provide a remedy for higher taxes that hospitals are paying and lower reimbursements they’re receiving for medical services, hospital officials say. Half a billion dollars sounds like a lot of money and hospitals are […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Poland tax rate same as last year
POLAND — Selectmen on Tuesday set the 2013-14 property tax rate at $13.65 per $1,000 in property value, the same as the last fiscal year, which ended June 30. Selectmen were able to maintain the rate by transferring $250,000 in school surplus from before the formation of RSU 16. Town Manager Rosemary Roy advised the […]
Posted inLetters
J. Spear: Wrong to eliminate program
I would like to add my voice to those who are dismayed at the cancellation of the “circuit breaker” property tax refund. As a retired teacher, living on a fixed income, keeping up with the property tax on my Auburn home is an ongoing challenge. My home has been in our family since the early […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Lawmakers find little to cheer about in report that Maine’s sales tax burden is nation’s third lowest
AUGUSTA — A new study by a national think tank says Maine’s sales tax is the third-lowest in the country. But legislators — even those known to be proponents of lower taxes — said that’s not necessarily good news. The Tax Foundation, which describes itself as a nonpartisan research organization that has monitored fiscal policy […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine Heritage Policy Center has plan to eliminate income tax
AUGUSTA — A conservative think tank in Maine is rolling out a new proposal to gradually phase out the state’s income tax, one of the top priorities for Gov. Paul LePage’s administration. The Portland-based Maine Heritage Policy Center is touting it as a bipartisan idea that will spur growth in economically hard-hit areas. The center says […]
Posted inMaine
Changes to Maine’s property tax relief programs catch many off guard
LEWISTON — Changes to a state rent and property tax relief program aimed at helping low- and middle-income individuals and families are catching many who benefited from the program off guard. Many are no longer eligible for the programs and others are learning that their rebates have been steeply cut. About 75,000 Maine households will […]