HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-03-11 13-109 RESOLVE13-109
MARCH 11, 2013
RESOLUTION
REGARDING THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
By the Bangor City Council on March 11, 2013
Whereas, the City of Bangor stands to lose $3.7 million in municipal revenue sharing
in the upcoming fiscal year if the state budget as proposed by Governor Paul LePage is
adopted; and
Whereas, The Bangor School Department would pay an additional $645,000 to fund
teacher retirement under the Governor's budget proposal; and
Whereas, 3,615 non -elderly Bangor households would lose $197 each, or $712,155
total, in property tax relief in the upcoming fiscal year under the cuts to the Homestead
Exemption program, if the Legislature adopts the Governor's proposed budget; and
Whereas, 1,810 non -elderly Bangor households that currently qualify for the Circuit
Breaker program would lose an average of $386 each, or $698,660 total in the
upcoming fiscal year, under that program, if the Legislature adopts the Governor's
proposed budget; and
Whereas, in total many Bangor households would lose $583 in tax offsets if they had
previously qualified for both the Homestead Exemption and Circuit Breaker programs, if
the Legislature adopts the Governor's proposed budget; and
Whereas, the City of Bangor stands to lose $140,000 in tractor trailer excise tax
revenues being transferred from the City of Bangor to the State of Maine, if the
Legislature adopts the Governor's proposed budget; and
Whereas, the City of Bangor stands to lose $821,000 in General Assistance
reimbursement, an entitlement program mandated by the State, in which the State
establishes the eligibility requirements, benefit levels and process to be employed; and
Whereas, our community will once again be forced either to eliminate classroom
education and other programs in our schools or find local funds to compensate for the
reduction in state financial support for public education; and
Whereas, this City Council will be faced with the unacceptable choice of either severely
cutting essential municipal services or dramatically increasing the property tax burden
on our fellow residents; and
Whereas, we, as the elected representatives of the residents and taxpayers of
Bangor, have an obligation to maintain essential local services, ensure a quality
education for our children and contain the property tax burden of our citizens;
13-109
MARCH 11, 2013
NOW, THEREFORE, BE 1T RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BANGOR THAT, we call upon the Governor and the members of 126th Legislature to
fully fund municipal revenue sharing for the coming biennium, maintain the Circuit
Breaker and Homestead Exemption properly tax relief programs, and fulfill the state's K-
12 education funding mandate under the School. Finance Act of 2003 and confirmed by
vote of the people of Maine in a June 2004 referendum. —
,� ; ane.
so . Durgin, Mayor
Patricia B. Blanchet d, Councilor
James
Charles R. Longo, Co cilor
Benjamin A. Sprague, Councilor
Joe 171. Baldacci, Councilor
Pauline B. Civiello, Councilor
Susan M. Hawes, Councilor
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David S. Neally, Councilor