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An Act To Improve the Process for Obtaining an Adjustment in State Valuation Due to Sudden and Severe Reduction in Municipal Valuation
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  the value of property within a municipality has a great effect on the calculation of the municipality’s required contribution for funding local schools; and
Whereas,  the sudden closure of businesses has a severe effect on municipal property valuations that is not currently accounted for in the calculation of general purpose aid for local schools; and
Whereas,  immediate relief is necessary to ensure municipalities with sudden and severe impacts upon property valuations are able to preserve adequate funding for education; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §208-A, sub-§2, ¶C, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 322, §2, is amended to read:
 
C. The municipality's equalized tax rate of residential property following the sudden and severe disruption in municipal valuation exceeds the most recent state average of residential property for which data is available.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 127th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.