The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1997-08-11 97-350 RESOLVEItem No, 9I-350 Dare: 8-11-97 Iters/Subject: RESOLVE: Dedicating State Budget Surplus to Local Property Tax Relief and Support of Public Sehools Responsible Department: City Council This Resolve is being introduced the request ofCoumilors Baldacci and Farnham. Manager's Comments: Associated laf erma4on: 9MAuk Budget Approval: Legal Approval: ugrenment new Finance Director Uny wucsmx Introduced for K Passage First Reading Page _ of _Referral 97-350 Assigned to Councilor ParnM1am d Beldacci August 11, 1997 CITY OF BANGOR �D Dedicating State Budget Surplus to Local Property Tax Relief (TITLE.)R,CSOIUCe.......... _.... _....... _........ _... _....... ... ... _......... _............... _... _....... ........... _..� and Support of Public Schools By red City Canard of Ale CftgofBanpo r RBSOLVRD, WHEREAS, the education of our youth is of critical importance to the future of our State, our economy and the social fabric which makes communities in Maine special places to livq to work, and to raise a family; and WtpREA3, since the founding of our Republic, a strong public school system has been recognized as the cannot foundation of American democracy; And WHEREAS, our public schools have Nome the brunt of seven long years of State budget reductions and freeze which addressed short-term problems as opposed to long-term needs and investments; and WHEREAS the current funding formula for public schools, coupled with Stale funding shortfalls, resulted in a disproportionately negative impact on public education in Pearson and Northern Maine; and WHEREAS, local homeowners and business owner, have been forced to pick up an increasing share of the funding shortfalls which have been created through higher property razes; and WHEREAS, the financial needs associated with public education have been a major factor in developing overdependence of the State's tax system on the property tax; and WHEREAS, directing this surplus toward education funding will assist in addressing the educational needs of am children and provide essential property tax relief to our citizens; and WHEREAS, while the State of Maine enjoys a current budget surplus, our Stale feces the prospect of long-term economic austerity unless we invest wisely in our State's future development through funding and supporting our public schools; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, THAT: we hereby call upon the Governor and am Stale Legislature to dedicate the available proportion of the $60 million budget surptus currently held in Augusta for direct property tax relief through providing additional support m public school districts, particularly to those in Eastern and 9I-350 Northern Maine, which have been negatively impacted under the State current funding shortfalls. The strength of our public school system depends upon this support, as does the ability of municipalities to fairly balance the need for quality public education with the need to maintain stable property taxes in order to promote economic development; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT: the City Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this Resolve to the Governor, t0 appropriate members of the Slate Ustisla me, to the Maine Municipal Association, the Maine School Board Association, the Bangor School Committee, and In area news media. IN CITY COUNCIL August 11, 1997 Passed A Tawe Copy Act t: IT CLERK 9J-350 Northern Mame, which have been negatively impacted under the State current funding shortfalls. The strength of our public school system depends upon this supper, as does the ability of municipalities to fairly balance the need for quality public education with the need to maintain stable property taxes in order to promote economic development; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT: the City Clerk is hereby directed to forward acopy of this Resolve to the Governor, b appropriate members of the State Legislature, to the Maine Municipal Association, the Maine School Board Association, the Berger School Committee, and to area news media 9]-350 Assigned to Councilor Parnham 6 aaldacci August ll, 1997. CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE) Dedicating Soup Budget Surplus to local Property Tax Relief lBSDIUC....._........_...._....._....._...._....._.._.._..._..._......._..._...._...._...._....._......_... and Support of Public Schools By Ne f%RY Cork¢ of Ne City afBaayw: - BD, WHEREAS, thethe education ofom youth is of communities opines ce Moine future ofour on liveour, ononny rk, and Na soeialfebric which makes wmmrmitiee in Maine special places to live, to work, and to mine family; and WIfERBAS, since the founding of our Republic, a strong public school system has been recognized as the central foundation of American democracy; and WHEREAS,: our public schools have home the front of seven long years of State budget reductions and freezes which addressed shmvberm problems As opposed to long -tern needs and investments; and WHEREAS the current funding formula for public schools, coupled with State funding shortfalls, resulted in a disproportionately negative impact on public education in Pearson and Northern Maine; and WHEREAS, local homeouvers and business owner, have bern forced to pick W an increasing shore of the finding shortfalls which have been created through higher property opens; and WHEREAS, the financial needs associated with public education have been a major factor" developing overdependence of the State's tax system on the property tax; and WHEREAS, drecfing dis suMples toward education funding will assist in addressing the educational needs of our children and provide essential property on relief to our citizens; and WHEREAS, while the State of Maine enjoys a current budget surplus, our State faces the prospect of long-term economic austerity unless we invest wisely in our State's future development through funding and supporting our public schools; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, THAT: we hereby call upon the Governor and our Since Ugislabue to dedicate the available proportion of the $60 million budget surplus currently held yr Augusta for direct property tax relief through providing additional support in public school districts, particularly to those in Eastern and IN CITY COUNCIL August 11, 1997 -Passed T CLERK 9]-350 BE50LVE Dedicative State Budget Surplus to Local Property Tax Relief and 5uppoit Of Public Schools �.-Jmju MUM a ads Qj;F ,,MA MAINE .. wacoi= m'�`aoi mra9.e..ao CITY c A. Ber r xmrwasmac P Micr al W. AUbetle, Mayor Joseph W. odds bazpS FM. aaalCaccl Nivii S. Wen DONE D, rat chorDOMIe O. Soucy Jam" M ierNan James M. Tyler Timothy C Woodcock August 12, 1997 Senator Michael Michaud 111 Main Street E. Millinocket, ME 04430 Dear Senator Michaud: Enclosed please find an attested copy of Council Resolve 97-350 "Dedicating State Budget Surplus to Local Property Tax Relief and Support of Public Schools." This Resolve was passed and approved by the Bangor City Council at its meeting of August 11, 1997. Sincerely yours, Patricia A. Blanchette Mayor PB/jdr Enclosure Senator Michell H. Michaud Senator Richard A. Bennett Senator John L Cleveland Chair, Appropriations and Financial AppropriationuFivancial Committee AppropriationsrF'inanchn Committee Affdis Committee Ridge Road 183 Davis Avenue 111 Month Street P.O. Box 655 Auburn, ME 04210 E. Millinocket,ME 04,130 Norway, ME 04268 Rep. Gearge I. Kerr Rep. Thomas E. POWia Rep. Elizabeth Townsend Appropriamses/Fi Ielcial Committee AppropriationerTintawal Committee Appropriations/Financial Committee 206 Bast Grand Avenue RR 4, Box 1060 44 Byfield Road Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064 Oakland, ME 04963 Portland, ME 04103 Rep. K fldeen Alicia Stevens Rep. Randall L. Berry Rep. Patricia Lemaue Appropriatier od'inancial Committee AppropriationstTinsncial Committee AppropriationsTinancial Committee P.O. Box 226 RR 2, Box 695 11 Moreau Avenue Orono, ME 04473 Livermore Fells, ME 04254 Lewiston, ME 04240 Rep. Richard Kneeland Rep. David N. Ott Appropriations/Financial Conmadhe Rep. Jean Gum Marvin Ill Approprieions/Financial Committee West Ridge Road Committee AppropriationsiT49Cranbrook 52 Long Sands Road RR 1, Box 11 Drive York, MB 03909 Easton, ME N740 Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 RepfTom J: Wlaahr AppmpriationsrFinsocial Conunittce The Honorable Angus S. Kung, Jr. Christopher Lockwood, Director 107 Thurston Road GoverrorofMaine. Maine Municipal Association P.O. Box 723 1 State House Station 60 Community Drive Norway, ME W268 Augusta, ME 04333-0001 Augusta, ME 04333 I�. Martin G. Newman, Chair Phyllis M. Shubert, Vice Chair Susan A. Carlisle Bangor School Coriputtee BangorSchool Bangor 64 Royal Road 38 S Avmu�ttse 66 Webster Avenool ue Bangor, ME 04401 BangonME 04401 Bangor,hfE 04401 Suzarme M. Cox Arthur G. Paper, Jr. Scott E. Lary Bangor School Committee Bangor School Committee Bangor School Committee 35 Howard Street 358 Fourteenth Street 14 Fern Street darpr,ME 04401 Bangor, ME M401 Bangor, ME W401 Rachael G. Leen Rep, Christian L. Baker - Rep. Joseph C. Perry Banger School Committee 42 Grant Street P.O. Box L381 125 Saratoga Avenue Bangor, ME 04401 Bangor,ME 04402-1381 Bangor, ME 04401 Rep, Turner, R- Dragoon Rep. Jane W. Sail - Senator Robert E. Murray, Jr. 1229 Broadway, Suite 337 37 Pond Street 340 Center Street Bangor, ME 04401 Bangor,ME 04,101 Bangor, ME 04401 Maine School Board Ass0ciatn0a 49 Community Drive Augusta,ME 04330-9405