Several Aroostock County Republicans hosted a gathering in Madawaska Wednesday night to discuss concerns over residents’ rising property taxes and electric bills.
Considering Maine already has the fourth highest tax burden in the country — and the highest property tax burden of any state — the impact of property tax hikes are being felt more painfully than ever, especially by those with fixed-incomes or lower incomes.
Mainers have also faced higher electric bills recently due, in part, to “stranded costs” as a result of certain state policies, including net energy billing, which was expanded in 2019 to help get large solar projects off the ground.
Pictured from Left to Right: Rep. Donald Ardell (R-Monticello), Candidate for House District 1 Dr. Lucien Daigle, Candidate for Senate District 1 Sue Bernard, Rep. Roger Albert (R-Madawaska)
“This issue is not a partisan issue,” said candidate for Maine Senate District 1, Sue Bernard. “It affects each of us.”
“So, it’s hard to understand why Maine continues to choose the most expensive form of power generation,” she said, referring to solar energy.
“Beginning with the incentives to build solar farms, then the price being charged per kilowatt hour, and finally, the cost of storing that energy,” Bernard explained. “All of those costs are because of the State’s energy policies and are paid by our tax dollars.”
Rising property taxes were also discussed during Wednesday night’s meeting, with particular attention given to their impact on senior citizens.
Factoring prominently into their conversation was the short-lived Property Tax Stabilization for Senior Citizens program.
Originally passed in August of 2022, the program was repealed by lawmakers last summer and was only be applicable to the property tax year that began on April 1, 2023.
Intended to stabilize property tax bills for full-time Mainers age 65 and older, the program was expected to cost state taxpayers millions annually, increasing substantially with each passing year.
“In Madawaska alone, there were 288 households enrolled in the program,” Rep. Roger Albert (R-Madawaska) said. “Well over 700 in Van Buren, Frenchville, Grand Isle, St. Agatha, and Madawaska combined.”
“With the prices of everything going up — from electricity to groceries to gas — property tax was the one cost seniors could depend on, but not anymore,” Rep. Albert added.
“I’m concerned about those on fixed incomes to handle these increased costs,” said House District 1 candidate Dr. Lucien Daigle. “Since they don’t have the ability to take on new jobs, their families are often jumping in to help financially and that puts a strain on them.”
[RELATED: Nearly 60% of Mainers Are Struggling to Afford Basic Necessities — Pine Tree State Poll]
Rep. Donald Ardell (R-Monticello) urged residents to keep these concerns in mind when deciding for whom to vote at the ballot box in November.
“Votes have consequences,” Rep. Ardell said. “We know how these problems started.”
“We know which legislators were offering solutions like the Senior Property Tax Stabilization program and my own proposal to increase the amount of inexpensive hydro power that could be generated or purchased by the State,” Ardell continued.
“So the choice is yours,” said Ardell, “vote for the candidates who represent your best interests.”
[RELATED: Sticker Shock — Maine Homeowners Burdened by Property Tax Hikes Following Recent Revaluations]
Earlier in the day Wednesday, Republican legislative leaders held a press conference in southern Maine that also focused in on the issue of rising property taxes in cities and towns throughout the state.
The event was held outside the home of Laura Lossie, a Gorham resident who has personally been impacted by the rising property tax burden imposed upon homeowners by the town.
Lossie told the Maine Wire that she has lived in the town for fifteen years and saw her property taxes begin to increase substantially three years ago when a revaluation was conducted by the town.
The following year, she saw her taxes go up an additional $1,000, and Lossie is now prepared to face yet another increase in the coming fiscal year.
“I definitely have to be a whole lot stricter in the budget, make choices of have-tos instead of want-tos,” Lossie said. “The want-tos aren’t even an option anymore.”
Lossie also said that she doesn’t think those who are responsible for developing the town’s budget “have an understanding at all” of how rising property taxes impact the daily lives of residents.
“The budget is out of bounds. It’s more than what it should be. We’re not getting more for our money. They’re cutting programs at the schools,” she said. “But yet, it costs more money.”
“I’m definitely not getting my money’s worth on these taxes,” Lossie added.
The push by the climate change clowns toward “green” energy is indicative of what’s known as “liberal logic” which is not actually logic by any means.
The rich guy who lives up the street put in solar, says his bill went from $150 to $35. During the same time our electricity went from $80 to $150. Net metering is BS and a gift to the rich.
I live in southern Maine but when I bought my home 18 years ago I had $700 in property taxes now its $4000 for a 0.2 acres cape house…
Mike. My taxes on my home in Maine are just about twice the taxes on my home in Florida.
AND my Maine home is valued at half that of my Florida home.
One state run by Republicans and one run by Democrats
Most of the property taxes go to the schools, what a lousy ROI we are getting. We were counting on the stabilization act to at least control one small aspect of living in one of the highest taxed states in the country, only NY and HI are worse. People need to get off their butts and VOTE these greedy democrats out of office. Our once scenic state has turned into an eyesore with solar panels covering vast fields and woodlands, huge wind turbines with blinking red lights reflecting off lakes and soon to be in our ocean. Remember these same people would not let Plum Creek develop their land, but have no problem changing environmental laws to get what they want on Sears Island. Illegals get better treatment than US citizens in Maine, we need to stop the insanity for our childrens, grand children and all future generations.
Aroostook Ctny Republicans = RINO …. Everyone of the Republicans (notice they NEVER say Conservative ) was/are in Favor of the Power line from Nowhere the Wind and Solar Farms in Aroostook Ctny…. They have NO PROBLEM raising your rates to benefit their net worth … Looking at you Tranny Lover Theriault and Tiny Trey Stuart …They all model themselves after Cankles Collins…
At least our “governor” is making plenty of money conspiring with the Chinese communists that have taken over our state ! Then there’s Pingree, and Golden making bank from the phony “Inflation Reduction Act”, and God knows what else. ALL of these crooks need to go to prison !!!
You ain’t seen nothing yet .
Wait till the suckers hook up the 275,000 “ heat pumps “ Janet wants !
Your electricity bill will be outta sight .
Hang On Mainers ……It’s only gonna get worse .
My Dad used to say “talk is cheap it takes money to buy rum”. Look at Republican voting records. There are some good voting records in the back benches, but leadership is an entirely different story.
Why does “solar energy” mean building solar farms, rather than handing home (& small business) owners solar panels to run their homes/businesses on?