The new state law that will freeze the property taxes of many Maine seniors has serious flaws that should be corrected immediately. I say this as someone who stands to save thousands of dollars from that law.
First, the law should target low- and moderate-income seniors who need assistance, rather than including everyone 65 and older. It makes no sense to provide a tax break to multimillionaires living on waterfront estates – yet the law does exactly that.
Second, the law should adjust property taxes upward if the senior moves to a more expensive home. As now written, the law allows seniors to keep paying the same amount of property taxes regardless of where they live in the future – even if they move to a home that’s twice as expensive.
The state stands to lose millions of dollars in revenue when this new law takes effect in 2023. Gov. Mills should call the Legislature back into special session immediately to amend it.
Shoshana Hoose
Portland
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