Legislators will host local forums next week about potential impacts on Gorham and Westbrook property taxpayers of the two-year state budget proposed by Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican.

LePage is proposing to halt distribution of revenue sharing to local governments for two years. The proposal could cost Westbrook and Gorham municipalities millions in lost revenue and significantly raise local property taxes.

Sen. Jim Boyle, D-Gorham, of Senate District 6 representing Gorham and parts of both Scarborough and Westbrook, will host a meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, in the Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St. Rep. Andrew McLean, D-Gorham, and Rep. Linda Sanborn, D-Buxton and Gorham, will co-facilitate the meeting.

In another meeting, Boyle and Sen. Anne Haskell, a Democrat representing Senate District 9 that is part of both Portland and Westbrook, will conduct a forum from 11: a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, in the Westbrook Public Safety Building, 570 Main St., Westbrook. Rep. Drew Gattine and Rep. Ann Peoples, both Democrats representing Westbrook, will participate.

“The proposed two-year budget will have significant impact on us and our towns,” Boyle said in a prepared statement, “and it is important that people have the chance to ask questions and share their concerns.”

Gorham Town Manager David Cole said the state’s proposed budget would cost Gorham $2.2 million in the first year. “The estimated impact on the tax rate (if all of it went on the tax rate, which is unlikely) would be $1.73 [per thousand],” Cole said this week.

In Westbrook, City Administrator Jerre Bryant said last month that the governor’s budget proposals could impact municipal and school funding by as much as $3.3 million, equivalent of $1.82 for each $1,000 of valuation on the city’s property tax rate.

Gorham Town Councilor Matthew Robinson, citing the projected $2.2 million loss to Gorham, said last week that the measure would be “irresponsible” for the state to pass on the impact to the local level. The Gorham council last week unanimously approved sending a letter with its concerns to the town’s legislative delegation.