Council hears TABOR critique (Printed Sept.22)
By Zack Anchors
Staff Writer
A presentation by an organization opposed to the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) at a City Council workshop has brought calls for the council to receive a similar presentation from a pro-TABOR representative.
At the Sept. 11 City Council workshop, legislative advocate Jeff Austin of the Maine Municipal Association gave an hour-long presentation on TABOR, a citizen initiated referendum which would place spending caps on governing bodies within Maine. Although Interim City Manager Jim Gailey introduced Austin’s presentation by stating that he had invited Austin for an unbiased analysis of TABOR, the presentation included sharp attacks on the referendum and Austin made clear that his organization was strongly opposed to the initiative, calling parts of it “disingenuous,” “bizarre,” “anti-local control” and refuting proponents claims that TABOR doesn’t require budget cuts.
During the citizen’s discussion portion of the Sept. 18 council meeting two candidates who will appear on the upcoming Nov. 7 ballot asked the council to consider hearing a pro-TABOR perspective.
“I’m curious if the council is also going to let someone speak on the positive side of TABOR,” said Paul Nixon, chair of the South Portland planning board and Republican candidate for the Maine House of Representatives District 122 seat.
Gary Crosby, a Republican candidate for the House District 123 seat, told the council he could arrange for a pro-TABOR presentation.
“I think it’s incumbent upon the council as a governing body to listen to both sides before making any decision,” said Crosby. “And furthermore, I’m talking with councilors and requesting that it be brought up that the council consider endorsing TABOR.”
Mayor Maxine Beecher said that no other presentations on TABOR were planned, but added that she would confer with the council on the possibility of inviting a pro-TABOR guest to a future workshop. She said that Austin’s presentation was originally intended to show the council both sides of the issue. Beecher also read a letter from a citizen that expressed opposition to TABOR.
The town councils of both Scarborough and Gray have passed resolutions endorsing TABOR, while the Portland City Council this week passed a resolution against TABOR. At the South Portland City Council Workshop councilors had mentioned the possibility of endorsing a resolution. Although councilors did not make their positions clear, the nature of the conversation suggested that the council was generally not supportive of TABOR. Austin said he could provide for the council examples of resolutions against TABOR that other municipalities have drafted.
If passed, TABOR would limit spending at the municipal level based on a formula determined by the rate of change in population plus the inflation rate. In order to increase spending further, a supermajority in the governing body would need to approve sending the increase to voters, who would need to approve the increase with a simple majority in order for it to go forward.
Proponents of TABOR claim it will restrict irresponsible government spending and lower taxes, but opponents argue TABOR will necessitate cutting essential services and take control away from local governments.
There has been much debate between proponents and opponents of TABOR over how the initiative is intended to work and how it will effect governing bodies. One of the most contentious debate has occurred over the issue of budget cuts. The MMA has argued that if a municipality shows negative growth in population TABOR would force it to lower it’s budget from the previous year. The Maine Heritage Policy Center, a conservative research organization that helped get TABOR on the ballot, argues that no budget cuts will be required by TABOR.
Austin presented to the council a May 5 issue of “Maine View,”–a newsletter published by the Heritage Policy Center–stating that 48 out of Maine 195 municipalities would have negative growth under TABOR, which means they would have to cut their budgets. At the council meeting Crosby said that the passage from “Maine View” was only referring to TABOR as it could have been written. Crosby said the language in the current TABOR did not require budget cuts.
Staff Writer
A presentation by an organization opposed to the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) at a City Council workshop has brought calls for the council to receive a similar presentation from a pro-TABOR representative.
At the Sept. 11 City Council workshop, legislative advocate Jeff Austin of the Maine Municipal Association gave an hour-long presentation on TABOR, a citizen initiated referendum which would place spending caps on governing bodies within Maine. Although Interim City Manager Jim Gailey introduced Austin’s presentation by stating that he had invited Austin for an unbiased analysis of TABOR, the presentation included sharp attacks on the referendum and Austin made clear that his organization was strongly opposed to the initiative, calling parts of it “disingenuous,” “bizarre,” “anti-local control” and refuting proponents claims that TABOR doesn’t require budget cuts.
During the citizen’s discussion portion of the Sept. 18 council meeting two candidates who will appear on the upcoming Nov. 7 ballot asked the council to consider hearing a pro-TABOR perspective.
“I’m curious if the council is also going to let someone speak on the positive side of TABOR,” said Paul Nixon, chair of the South Portland planning board and Republican candidate for the Maine House of Representatives District 122 seat.
Gary Crosby, a Republican candidate for the House District 123 seat, told the council he could arrange for a pro-TABOR presentation.
“I think it’s incumbent upon the council as a governing body to listen to both sides before making any decision,” said Crosby. “And furthermore, I’m talking with councilors and requesting that it be brought up that the council consider endorsing TABOR.”
Mayor Maxine Beecher said that no other presentations on TABOR were planned, but added that she would confer with the council on the possibility of inviting a pro-TABOR guest to a future workshop. She said that Austin’s presentation was originally intended to show the council both sides of the issue. Beecher also read a letter from a citizen that expressed opposition to TABOR.
The town councils of both Scarborough and Gray have passed resolutions endorsing TABOR, while the Portland City Council this week passed a resolution against TABOR. At the South Portland City Council Workshop councilors had mentioned the possibility of endorsing a resolution. Although councilors did not make their positions clear, the nature of the conversation suggested that the council was generally not supportive of TABOR. Austin said he could provide for the council examples of resolutions against TABOR that other municipalities have drafted.
If passed, TABOR would limit spending at the municipal level based on a formula determined by the rate of change in population plus the inflation rate. In order to increase spending further, a supermajority in the governing body would need to approve sending the increase to voters, who would need to approve the increase with a simple majority in order for it to go forward.
Proponents of TABOR claim it will restrict irresponsible government spending and lower taxes, but opponents argue TABOR will necessitate cutting essential services and take control away from local governments.
There has been much debate between proponents and opponents of TABOR over how the initiative is intended to work and how it will effect governing bodies. One of the most contentious debate has occurred over the issue of budget cuts. The MMA has argued that if a municipality shows negative growth in population TABOR would force it to lower it’s budget from the previous year. The Maine Heritage Policy Center, a conservative research organization that helped get TABOR on the ballot, argues that no budget cuts will be required by TABOR.
Austin presented to the council a May 5 issue of “Maine View,”–a newsletter published by the Heritage Policy Center–stating that 48 out of Maine 195 municipalities would have negative growth under TABOR, which means they would have to cut their budgets. At the council meeting Crosby said that the passage from “Maine View” was only referring to TABOR as it could have been written. Crosby said the language in the current TABOR did not require budget cuts.
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