The Cape Elizabeth Town Council has invited residents interested in exploring the effect of the taxpayer’s bill of rights initiative to join a newly established task force.

The taxpayer’s bill of rights, or TABOR, would cap spending at the state inflation rate with growth added for population increases for towns and schools. Spending increases for municipalities would be based on either the growth in property values or on inflation and population, whichever is lower.

Any money needed above the cap would require an approval from two-thirds of the council and would then need approval from a majority of residents.

Councilor Mike Mowles warned that this group should remain open minded regarding TABOR. “My concern is that this committee will become an anti-TABOR task force,” he said.

A task force formed when the Palesky tax cap initiative was gaining momentum helped educate residents about the potentially devastating effects for school and municipal services if the proposed 1 percent cap on property taxes was approved.

Councilor Anne Swift-Kayatta said that the goal of the group is to explore the possible impact of TABOR and then educate the public about it.

Any resident who attends the first two meetings of the TABOR task force will become a member of the group. The first meeting has not yet been scheduled. Check www.capeelizabeth.com for meeting dates and times.