Property Tax Relief Payment

Office of the Maine State Treasurer will send $100 relief payments to all who qualified in 2019 for the homestead exemption.

Municipal tax assessors have been officially notified about a new law affecting Maine municipalities.  "An Act to Return Funds to Maine Property Taxpayers" requires the Office of the Maine State Treasurer (OST) to provide tax relief payments of no less than $100 to qualifying homesteads when the Property Tax Relief Fund reaches a threshold of funding to support the payments.  In 2019, this threshold will be met based on available funds divided by the number of homesteads net of expenses to administer the program.

The Treasurer has directed all of Maine's municipal tax assessors and the State Tax Assessor to provide the names and addresses of all property taxpayers who qualified for the homestead exemption as of April 1, 2019.  The OST expects that approximately 305,000 property taxpayers will receive a payment.

The State Treasurer is anticipating a payment of approximately $102 to be mailed to qualified Mainers in the months of January and February.

For more information on the program and how the payments will be sent, please click here.

About the homestead exemption program:  This program provides a measure of property tax relief for certain individuals that have owned homestead property in Maine for at least 12 months and make the property they occupy on April 1 their permanent residence.  Property owners would receive an exemption of $20,000.  For more information, please click here.

Tips for Managing Storm-Damaged Trees

The recent wind storm caused substantial damage to Maine's coastal counties.  After power and other utilities have been restored, property owners will be faced with the issue of what to do with storm-damaged trees.  Project Canopy, a program of the Maine Forest Service (MFS), offers tips and helpful guidance to property owners faced with questions about what to do with downed trees, limbs, and branches.

Trees and branches on homes and around power lines - Homeowners need to find immediate solutions for trees and branches on their homes.  Branches and trees on power lines should be dealt with by calling local power companies.  Even if a hanging limb is clear of power and utility wires, homeowners should rely on professionals to assess the severity of the damage before trying to repair or remove the branch.

Injured trees requiring climbing or chainsaw work - Call a licensed arborist for help.  Arborists are tree care professionals who are trained to assess and correct storm-damaged trees.  They also have the experience needed to diagnose how much of a tree can or should be saved.  Homeowners should be wary of those offering fly-by-night, emergency tree-cutting services.  Always ask for proof of licensing, insurance, and work references.

Trees covered with ice - As we head into colder months, ice and snow loads can further damage leaning trees or branches not broken free, making a potentially dangerous situation even worse.  Do not work around limbs that have broken off (or partially broken off) and are hung up in a tree crown.  These can break off at any time with devastating force.  Contact a licensed and insured arborist.

For more information, visit www.maineforestservice.gov or call (207) 287-2791.

Maine State Archives Launches Virtual Reality, PSAs for Bicentennial

The Maine State Archives will celebrate American Archives Month this October with the launch of two special projects in commemoration of Maine’s bicentennial of statehood:  The Maine Bicentennial Moments public interest advertising announcements series, as well as the Maine Virtual Reality (VR) Experience.

The Maine Virtual Reality Experience uses VR technology to provide viewers enhanced 360-degree visions of notable Maine places.  VR participants will feel as though they are standing at the site of interest.  Simply by directing their gaze while wearing the viewer, they can activate pop-up historical anecdotes or informational snippets about the site.  Three VR experiences are currently available:

• the Maine State House;
• the Old Orchard Beach Pier; and
• the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory.

More will be added during the bicentennial commemoration.

The Maine Bicentennial Moments are 30-second public interest advertising announcements featuring Maine history.  Each moment includes images and documents from the Maine State Archives and other sources to highlight a person, place, or event in Maine history.  The 72 moments will be aired on broadcast television throughout the State during the bicentennial commemoration in addition to being posted online.  Each moment is intended to pique viewers’ interest and to encourage further exploration of the topic.

In addition to launching these special bicentennial projects, the Maine State Archives is presenting a bicentennial exhibit later this fall in the Archives’ lobby at the Cultural Building in Augusta, featuring the Act of Admission to the Union, historic maps, and the first draft of the Maine Constitution.