Budget & Taxes

LD 671 would eliminate Maine's state income tax for tax years beginning January 1, 2026, removing this tax from residents and businesses. It requires the state to review and update laws referencing income tax and establish a new budgeting system for state agencies. Under this system, agencies must justify their entire budget from scratch every eight years (zero-based budgeting) and during other years, submit proposals for 5% and 10% funding reductions. The Department of Administrative and Financial Services must report on necessary legal changes by the 2026 legislative session to implement these provisions.

LD 1013 requires Maine municipalities to hold a voter referendum before issuing bonds totaling $10 million or more. This directly affects all cities, towns, and local governments planning large-scale borrowing projects. The bill mandates that the referendum must be held on the first Tuesday in November, following existing procedures outlined in state law. It aims to give residents a direct vote on significant debt that could impact local taxes and public spending. The policy change applies to all municipal debt exceeding the $10 million threshold, not to smaller projects or existing bonds.

This bill modifies how Maine municipalities calculate their annual property tax levy limits. It requires the State Treasurer to post annual revenue forecasts by April 15th to help towns plan budgets, and establishes a new formula using "average personal income growth" and a "property growth factor" to set the tax limit. The tax limit for a municipality is now based on the previous year's levy multiplied by one plus this growth factor, directly affecting all Maine towns and cities that set property taxes. The changes aim to provide clearer, data-driven guidance for municipal budgeting.