BIDDEFORD — In an effort to save state revenue sharing, the Maine Municipal Association has started a television and social media campaign.

The television ad, which began airing Feb. 2, features town and city officials from around the state talking about the services like trash disposal, snow plowing and emergency response that would be affected if revenue sharing is slashed from the current $65 million distributed to communities around the state to $20 million, as proposed.

The campaign will last “the duration,” said MMA spokesman Eric Conrad, of the legislative session.

Last week, the Maine House of Representatives approved a bill that would restore $40 million to revenue sharing ”“ bringing the total to $60 million.

This is promising, said Conrad, but there are several votes to go, and a veto by Gov. Paul LePage is expected.

The media campaign is aimed at Maine homeowners and small business owners, he said.

If the bill fails and revenue sharing is cut drastically, said Conrad, it would require local governments to cut services and/or increase property taxes, the only large-scale revenue generating mechanism at their disposal.

“We’re hoping property owners will think (what the loss of state revenue sharing) will mean for property taxes and the services they rely on,” he said, “and that they contact their legislators.”

Revenue sharing was a partnership entered into more than 40 years ago between the state and municipal governments, said Biddeford City Manager John Bubier when he spoke on the issue last month at a pubic hearing before the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee. Bubier was one of dozens of city officials who spoke at the public hearing in support of the bill to keep state revenue sharing at the current level.

According to state statute, he said, state government is supposed to return 5 percent of the money it collects from income and sales tax to Maine communities.

The revenue sharing “raid” began in 2008 under Gov. John Baldacci, said Conrad. Each year, little by little, more of the fund was dipped into so the state could balance its budget.

Last year, when Gov. Paul LePage proposed eliminating revenue sharing for two years, that “was a wake up call,” said Conrad. Through legislative action, the elimination didn’t take place, but the level of revenue distributed to communities was cut by more than half.

According to the statute, said Conrad, revenue sharing should be $140 million, but last year it was cut to $65 million.

Over the summer, a group was supposed to find $40 million in state cuts to keep it at the current level. Since the group failed in its mission, revenue sharing is supposed to drop to $20 million, which would be distributed among Maine’s 492 communities.

State revenue sharing cutbacks that have already taken place have cost millions to communities in York County.

In 2009, Biddeford received $1.9 million from the state; this year it received $1.1 million. During the same time period, state revenue sharing was decreased in Sanford from $2.2 million to $1.2 million, in Saco from $1.4 million to $800,000, and in Kennebunk from $700,000 to $400,000.

If the funds are reduced to $20 million, Biddeford would receive $366,000, Sanford would get $388,000, Saco would take in $278,000 and Kennebunk would net a mere $135,000.

On behalf of its members, the advertising and social media campaign was started, said Conrad, because “if we don’t fight it now, there will be nothing left.”

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or [email protected].