Taxes and Budget Both sides weigh in as Pine Tree Development Zone tax incentive program faces renewal The program is again up for renewal, and voices of support and opposition came out to be heard at a Feb. 15 public hearing convened by the Joint […] MaineBiz Posted March 3, 2023 Tags Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Economists, lawmakers caution against squandering unexpected fiscal strength on tax cuts “Is it really a surplus if we’re not paying for these really essential needs that Mainers have?” asked Maura Pillsbury, a state and local tax analyst with […] Beacon Posted February 6, 2023 Tags Budget, Revenue, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Radio interview with Maura Pillsbury about tax policy in Maine Our guest will be Maura Pillsbury who is a tax analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy. She will talk about what the 131st Maine State […] WMPG Posted January 31, 2023 Tags Budget, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget The coming tax debate between Janet Mills and Paul LePage LePage wants to supercharge this idea in his first year, telling WMTW he would begin his plan to phase out Maine’s income tax by exempting all pension income from […] Bangor Daily News Posted September 2, 2022 Tags Budget, Income Tax, Property Tax, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Once again, Legislature extends broken tax break for businesses When funding is funneled away from public priorities like schools, infrastructure, and health care and into business tax breaks, we should be confident that the spending is […] Maura Pillsbury Posted May 27, 2022 Tags Economic Security, Revenue, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget The best of the budget for Maine’s economy The 130th legislative session began with a surplus of more than $800 million which was revised up to $1.2 billion in March. The bipartisan budget approved last […] Sarah Austin Posted April 28, 2022 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Economy, Education, Housing, Infrastructure, K-12 Education, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Watchdog agency again finds no evidence to support business tax breaks Once again, an investigation by the Maine State Legislature’s watchdog agency has found a lack of oversight and accountability for a business tax break. The Office of […] MECEP Posted April 15, 2022 Tags Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Legislature moving to curb ‘dark store theory’ tax assessments A report on “dark store theory” by the Maine Center for Economic Policy said that when a big box retailer moves to a new location, it often […] Sun Journal Posted March 15, 2022 Tags Dark Stores, Property Tax, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Our View: Law would level playing field between communities, big retailers Since 2015, large retailers in Maine have lowered their valuations by more than $16 million combined using this strategy, costing cities and towns hundreds of thousands of […] Portland Press Herald Posted March 14, 2022 Tags Dark Stores, Property Tax, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Maine House kicks off floor votes by lifting cap on clean syringes, taxing ‘dark stores’ A 2019 report by the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) found that of the 25 Maine towns with the highest retail sales, 17 had big box stores appeal […] Beacon Posted March 11, 2022 Tags Dark Stores, Property Tax, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness