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For Immediate Release
September 12, 2003

Contact:
Larry Benoit
(207) 774-1200
E-mail: beryl@wolfepr.com

Beryl Wolfe
(207) 883-6083

Bipartisan Group Formed to Support 'Yes' Vote on Question 1B on Nov. 4 Referendum Ballot

New group called Mainers for Real and Responsible Property Tax Relief

AUGUSTA, Maine - Dana Connors, President of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, has announced the formation of Mainers for Real and Responsible Property Tax Relief, a bipartisan campaign committee which will advocate for a Yes vote on Question 1B on the November 4 referendum ballot. Connors will serve as Chairman of the committee.

Connors made the announcement at a news conference at the State House Friday morning.

"Question 1B is a collaborative commitment to increase state support of education to 55 percent that we can afford without raising taxes and without cutting vital state services that are already strapped," Connors said.

"It's the Maine way and deserves the support of all Mainers," he added. "We are assembling a broad coalition of government, business, education and community leaders from the legislature, local governments, non-profit organizations, health care providers and Maine's leading businesses. State and local governments working together, not against each other, to achieve an affordable commitment to increased state support of education is the Maine way of doing things."

Commenting on current radio ads in support of Question 1A, Connors said "these ads are simply wrong, because Question 1A would require the State to immediately raise taxes or cut spending by a total of $246 million a year and there is no guarantee or legal requirement that municipalities would pass along the extra money in the form of local property tax relief."

Connors also announced that George Campbell of Portland, former MMA President, former Commissioner of Transportation and former Mayor of Portland, would serve as the group's Treasurer.

Joining Connors was Rep. Patrick Colwell, Speaker of the House, Rep. Joseph Bruno, House Republican Leader, Senator Kenneth Gagnon, Senate Assistant Majority Leader and Rep. David Lemoine, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation.

Speaker Colwell said, "I support funding local education at 55 percent. Question 1B meets that goal in a responsible way without raising taxes on Maine people as the MMA plan would."

Rep. Bruno remarked, "In a state that's the highest taxed state in the nation according to many surveys, we cannot afford the MMA proposal because of the consequences if it should pass. There will not be the ability to find $246 million in the current budget to fund this without a significant increase in taxes. Our approach is reasonable and avoids the need to increase taxes."

Senator Kenneth Gagnon of Waterville said, "It took many years for property taxes in our state to get off course. It will take time to correct this imbalance. The Legislature has taken steps to address this imbalance in a prudent way - in a way that honors the state's commitment to fund education, in a way that will not cut services, and in a way that will not create tax increases."

Brian Rines, Mayor of Gardiner, said, "The MMA's proposal, Question 1A, is bad policy; in fact the MMA plan might just be the biggest of all unfunded mandates. I prefer the Legislature's proposal, 1B. Restoring the homestead exemption to its $7,000 level will be a wonderful relief to Gardiner taxpayers and phasing in the 55 percent share of education costs will allow the state to continue to meet all of its other obligations without putting more on taxpayer's backs."

The newly formed committee will begin fundraising immediately. Inquiries and contributions can be sent to Mainers for Real and Responsible Property Tax Relief, P. O. Box 18187, Portland, Maine 04112.

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