SKOWHEGAN — Gov. Paul LePage will hold a town hall-style meeting in Skowhegan Monday night to answer questions about his proposal to change the state tax structure to place more reliance on an increased and expanded state sales tax.
The meeting is scheduled for 6-7 p.m. in the auditorium at Skowhegan Area High School.
The governor has been traveling around the state to tout his plan to increase the sales tax from 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent and reduce the income tax. LePage has said that the plan will make Maine more attractive for young families, retirees, veterans and job creators.
A proposal to eliminate revenue sharing and allow more taxation of non-profit organizations has also been controversial with local government officials who say the alternative is higher local property taxes.
Since announcing his plan as part of the proposed state budget, LePage has held public meetings in Westbrook, Saco, Auburn, Belfast, Bangor, Ellsworth, Machias and Presque Isle. At the Saco forum, a former Biddeford mayor and state lawmaker threw a jar of Vaseline at LePage’s feet after engaging LePage in a back-and-forth debate. She was escorted out of the hall by police and the meeting was ended.
The Legislature’s Taxation Committee has backed expanding the sales tax to some items and services not currently covered and boosting the lodging tax from 8 percent to 9 percent.
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