2005 Maine Code - §1677 — Municipal Budget Analysis Committee; established; membership

      1. Membership; chair. The committee is composed of the following members:
   
A. The Director of the State Planning Office or the director's designee; [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
B. The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee; [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
C. The State Budget Officer or the State Budget Officer's designee; [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
D. The Director of the Bureau of Revenue Services within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services or the director's designee; [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
E. A representative of a statewide organization that represents the interests of municipal governments, appointed by the Governor; and [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
F. A representative of a statewide organization that represents the interests of public school educators, appointed by the Governor. [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]

The Governor shall appoint one of the members to serve as chair.
[2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]
      2. Determination of effectiveness of increased state support for public education in reducing property tax. Beginning in fiscal year 2006-07 and ending in fiscal year 2009-10, the committee shall meet annually on or about June 15th and, in coordination with the development of budget estimates pursuant to section 1665, determine whether the state share percentage of the total costs of essential programs and services described in Title 20-A, section 15671, subsection 7 was met in the prior fiscal year and to determine whether this level of state funding resulted in a reduction of the related local property tax commitment required to fund the costs of essential programs and services described in Title 20-A, section 15671 in the prior fiscal year. The committee's determination must be based on consideration of the following information developed by the Department of Education regarding each municipality and the statewide aggregate for the prior fiscal year:
   
A. The total state and municipal spending for public education services for kindergarten to grade 12; [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
B. The total costs of the essential programs and services described in Title 20-A, section 15671; [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
C. The total state appropriation for public education services for kindergarten to grade 12; and [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
D. The total local property tax commitment to support the provision of public education services for kindergarten to grade 12, municipal services and the local share of the county budget apportioned pursuant to Title 30-A, section 706. [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).] [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]
      3. Benchmarks and projected performance indicators. In addition to the considerations set forth in subsection 2, paragraphs A to D, the committee's determination under subsection 2 must be based on consideration of the following benchmarks and projected performance indicators for the specified state fiscal years.
   
A. For fiscal year 2006-07:   
(1) The benchmark for the state share of the total cost of the essential programs and services described in Title 20-A, section 15671 is 48.0%; and  
(2) The projected performance indicator for the related reduction in local property tax commitment to fund the cost of the essential programs and services described in Title 20-A, section 15671 is a local property tax commitment that is less than the local property tax commitment made in fiscal year 2005-06. [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
B. For fiscal year 2007-08:   
(1) The benchmark for the state share of the total cost of the essential programs and services described in Title 20-A, section 15671 is 50.0%; and  
(2) The projected performance indicator for the related reduction in local property tax commitment to fund the cost of the essential programs and services described in Title 20-A, section 15671 is a local property tax commitment that is less than the local property tax commitment made in fiscal year 2006-07. [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
C. For fiscal year 2008-09:   
(1) The benchmark for the state share of the total cost of the essential programs and services described in Title 20-A, section 15671 is 52.5%; and  
(2) The projected performance indicator for the related reduction in local property tax commitment to fund the cost of the essential programs and services described in Title 20-A, section 15671 is a local property tax commitment that is less than the local property tax commitment made in fiscal year 2007-08. [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
D. For fiscal year 2009-10:   
(1) The benchmark for the state share of the total cost of the essential programs and services described in Title 20-A, section 15671 is 55.0%; and  
(2) The projected performance indicator for the related reduction in local property tax commitment to fund the cost of the essential programs and services described in Title 20-A, section 15671 is a local property tax commitment that is less than the local property tax commitment made in fiscal year 2008-09. [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).] [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]
      4. Annual report. The committee shall provide an annual report to the Governor and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over taxation matters no later than September 1st in each of the fiscal years in which it meets pursuant to subsection 2. The committee's annual report must include the following:
   
A. The information developed by the Department of Education in accordance with subsection 2; [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
B. A progress report of the actions of state and local officials in accomplishing the benchmarks and projected performance indicators specified in subsection 3; [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
C. Analyses of and findings with respect to the relevant factors, including any extenuating or exceptional circumstances, that contributed to the accomplishment or failure to accomplish the benchmarks and projected performance indicators specified in subsection 3 by state and local officials; and [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]    
D. Recommendations, including any recommended changes in law, related to the considerations described in subsection 2, paragraphs A to D and the benchmarks and projected performance indicators described in subsection 3. [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).] [2003, c. 712, §1 (new).]

Section History:

PL 2003,  Ch. 712,   §1 (NEW).