Some folks in our community may have recently received impact notices from the Gorham Town Office regarding upcoming changes to their property tax valuations. The revaluation process resets property values to reflect their current market value so that the property tax burden is equitable for all taxpayers. Without periodic revaluations, some property owners would end up paying more than their fair share, while others would pay less. Regardless of the intent to keep the property tax system as fair as possible, any adjustment that increases taxes can be painful, particularly during a time when fuel prices and the cost of basic necessities remain high.

Foreseeing some of these increases and understanding that many Mainers are still struggling from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, my colleagues and I in the 130th Legislature passed a number of bills that will help provide property tax relief to folks across the state, including right here in Gorham.

This session, we took steps to expand two existing state programs providing relief to homeowners and renters. We expanded Maine’s Homestead Exemption Program, which allows homeowners to reduce their home value by $25,000 and only pay property taxes on the remaining amount. The recent biennial budget approved by the Legislature increases municipal reimbursement of the program by three percent each year until the state fully reimburses municipalities to cover the entire cost of the program. We also expanded the Property Tax Fairness Credit Program for both homeowners and renters to now provide a one-time boost in the maximum benefit from $750 to $1,000 for income-eligible families, and $1,200 to $1,500 for older Mainers.

Additionally, we advanced a new initiative, called the Property Tax Stabilization Program, which will freeze property taxes for those who are 65 years and older. While this program is intended to keep older Mainers in their homes, there are a few issues that will likely need to be addressed during the next legislative session. Municipalities across Maine have expressed concerns that costs may fall to them, and Maine Revenue Services has identified technical issues with implementing the new law. While changes to the program are likely, those who are eligible should still apply before the Dec. 1 deadline.

Furthermore, the Legislature passed a measure to restore the state’s Property Tax Deferral Program, which allows qualifying individuals to postpone paying the property taxes on their homesteads until they pass away, move or sell their property.

In 2021, the Legislature also accomplished a big win for stabilizing property taxes by fully funding the state’s share of public K-12 education costs, effectively reducing the amount many municipalities will have to contribute to support our public education system. Typically, municipalities rely on property taxes to foot this bill. In 2022, we further demonstrated our commitment to sustaining this state contribution by creating the Education Stabilization Fund to ensure that our public schools continue to get the support they need in future years.

While Gorham’s property tax revaluation is understandably causing some concern, there are many new and existing ways to reduce your property tax burden, and I encourage you to take advantage of them. To learn more about eligibility and application requirements for all of Maine’s property tax relief programs, visit www.maine.gov/revenue/ taxes. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

Rep. Jim Boyle, D-Gorham, is serving his first term in the Maine House of Representatives and previously served two years in the Maine State Senate. He is a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Contact him at Jim.Boyle@legislature.maine.gov.