Investing in our rural communities
By Rep. Richard A. Evans
After months of hard work, the first session of the 130th Legislature is completed, and I am proud to report that what we accomplished will bring much needed property tax relief and investments to our rural communities.
I have heard from many of you about how high property taxes are causing you and your families to make difficult financial decisions, including selling cherished homes and camps. This year, we enacted several of the most far-reaching initiatives in decades to reduce the burden of property taxes.
First, after years of trying, the Legislature approved funding 55% of public education in Maine. Even though called for by a referendum vote almost twenty years ago, this goal had proven elusive until now. Enactment of this law will be very beneficial in lowering local education costs.
Cities and towns depend on municipal revenue sharing to fund local services. Over the past 12 years, funding for this program has been cut causing increases in local property taxes. This year, the Legislature approved increases in the revenue sharing program, giving municipalities the ability to lower property taxes.
The Legislature also acted to provide direct relief to residents who have trouble paying for housing. Both the Maine Property Tax Fairness Credit, which is available to both renters and homeowners, and the Homestead Exemption Program received new funding, with over $22 million going to the tax credit program for expanded eligibility and larger tax relief checks.
Another major issue here is access to reliable, affordable broadband. Broadband is necessary to our economic growth. Between the $20 million bond approved by Maine voters last year and another $21 million targeted to broadband expansion by the Legislature this year, we should be able to make some real progress in bringing high-speed internet to our rural communities.
The opioid crisis continues to be an area of major concern for our state and our area. This crisis has only worsened since the start of the pandemic. I sponsored a successful bill, LD 1718, An Act To Establish the Accidental Drug Overdose Death Review Panel, to review deaths caused by accidental drug overdoses. This panel will use what they learn to recommend methods of preventing overdose deaths.
Residents of Piscataquis County with substance use issues lack adequate recovery services compared to other areas of state. To address this program, I co-sponsored a bill, LD 488, to expand recovery organizations throughout Maine. This proposal requires the state to set up recovery centers in every county, making these critical services more available in rural areas like ours. This bill has now also been signed into law, and should have a significant impact on those who need help in Piscataquis County.
Despite the progress made this session, in terms of property tax relief, broadband expansion, housing and health care, there is still a considerable amount of work to be done. I encourage you to reach out to me with your thoughts and ideas at Richard.Evans@legislature.maine.gov. As always, I welcome your input.
Evans is a physician and surgeon and represents seven communities in Piscataquis County. He is in his first term in the Maine House of Representatives and serves on the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee.