Maine voters repeal tax overhaul

Maine voters, not convinced proposed lower income tax rates really would save them money, rejected the state's proposed tax system overhaul yesterday.

It was handily defeated. Sixty-one percent of voters opted to repeal the plan approved last year by the Maine legislature to lower the state's top income tax rate from 8.5 percent to 6.5 percent.

To make up the loss of income tax collections, the state wanted to broaden its sales tax base. Many items and services now tax-free would have been subject to the state's 5 percent sales tax; others, such as food and lodging levies, would have been raised.

But the tax system overhaul, the implementation of which was delayed pending yesterday's referendum, is now on permanent hold.

And it's back to the tax drawing board for Mainers in their effort to find funding.

Related posts:

• Maine tax reform vote June 8
• California tax votes June 8
• Arizona voters OK sales tax hike
• Arizona sales tax increase vote today, other states' tax ballot initiatives later
• This is why I hate ballot referenda
• Proposition 13, still popular after 30 years
• Garage sale taxes in Texas
• Florida tax tidbit: yacht tax break
• State use taxes tend to be useless
• State Tax Departments

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