LETTER | City councilor explains budget limitations

Different tax rates — based on property values — may sound appealing, but it is not allowed by state law

Editor:

The city of Biddeford is currently in the time of the year affectionately known as ‘budget season.’

Hard decisions and complex discussions are the name of the game during this season. As I’ve sat on the dais during our deliberations and public comment periods, I have heard a suggestion come up that has been met with applause and support from the general public in the room. This notion has also been making the rounds on social media.

To paraphrase the statements, “Why does the city not tax different properties at different rates?”

The implication has been to charge a higher rate to higher value properties. While the reasoning behind such a practice and the implications of what it would mean for the city would certainly be a robust conversation, it is something that cannot enter into the budget discourse.

Why is that the case?

The Maine State Constitution. Article IX, Section 8, Taxation, to be exact.

To save folks all the time of searching through our State Constitution (though I would recommend that anyone engaging in political discourse in our state read it), I’ve quoted it here:

“All taxes upon real and personal estate, assessed by authority of this State, shall be apportioned and assessed equally according to the just value thereof.”

The key word in this section is equally.

The Maine State Constitution explicitly forbids variable property tax rates.

I think I can safely speak for my fellow city councilors in saying that we really appreciate and value public input and our citizens coming forward with their ideas and proposals on how to achieve a fair and balanced budget.

But it is also important to remember that we have to follow state laws when we’re putting together our municipal budget.

Jake Pierson | Biddeford City Council, Ward Six

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