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RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Dedicate All Sales Taxes from All Vehicle Sales and Vehicle-related Sales to the Highway Fund for Roads and Bridge Capital Improvements
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be proposed:
 
Constitution,   Art. IX, §26  is enacted to read:
Section 26.  Revenues from motor vehicle sales and use taxes.  Beginning in July 2021, the revenue from the tax imposed on sales of motor vehicles and sales related to motor vehicles must be deposited in the Highway Fund for roads and bridge capital improvements. Beginning in August 2021, and every month thereafter, the State Controller shall transfer to the Highway Fund for roads and bridge capital improvements an amount that is equal to 100% of the revenue from the tax imposed on sales of motor vehicles and sales related to motor vehicles for the previous month. The tax amount must be based on actual sales for that month and may not consider any accruals that may be required by law. The State Tax Assessor shall certify to the State Controller by the 15th day of each month the amounts to be distributed and credited under this section as of the close of the State Controller's records for the previous month.
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date. Resolved:  That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, at a statewide election held in November 2020, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question:
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved:  That the Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.
 
SUMMARY
This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to dedicate all sales and use tax revenue from sales of motor vehicles and sales related to motor vehicles to the Highway Fund for roads and bridge capital improvements.