Group pushing for ballot measure to tax wealthy Mainers to fund education

Supporters are collecting signatures to put a measure on the November 2016 ballot that would tax high-income households to help fund public education.

Under the proposal, Maine households earning more than $200,000 a year would pay $30 for every $1,000 over $200,000 into a fund benefiting schools serving kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Stand Up for Students campaign said it estimates it will need 62,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot. The group said it expects the measure could raise $110 million.

The state has never met the 55 percent school funding level specified in Maine’s education subsidy laws, a measure passed by voters in 2003.

“We’re asking our top earners to pay a little bit more to help fund our most common and essential public good – the education of our children,” said Michael Hillard, professor of economics at the University of Southern Maine. “This initiative is good for students, good for schools, good for taxpayers, and good for Maine.”

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