Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §1811, as amended by PL 1995, c. 281 §§18 and 19 and affected by §42, is further amended to read:

§1811. Sales tax

A tax is imposed on the value of all tangible personal property and taxable services sold at retail in this State. The rate of tax is 7% on the value of liquor sold in licensed establishments as defined in Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 15, in accordance with Title 28-A, chapter 43; 7% on the value of rental of living quarters in any hotel, rooming house, tourist or trailer camp; 10% on the value of rental for a period of less than one year of an automobile; 7% on the value of prepared food sold in establishments that are licensed for on-premises consumption of liquor pursuant to Title 28-A, chapter 43; and 6% 5 1/2% on the value of all other tangible personal property and taxable services. Value is measured by the sale price, except as otherwise provided.

The tax imposed upon the sale and distribution of gas, water or electricity, or telephone or telegraph service, by any public utility, the rates for which sale and distribution are established by the Public Utilities Commission, shall must be added to the rates so established. No tax shall may be imposed upon the sale or use of electrical energy, or water stored for the purpose of generating electricity, when the sale is to or by a wholly owned subsidiary by or to its parent corporation, except for electrical energy or water purchased for resale to or by such wholly owned subsidiary.

On or before May 15th of each year, the State Budget Officer shall present a final estimate of General Fund revenues for the current fiscal year, taking into consideration an estimate of the Revenue Forecasting Committee. If estimated General Fund revenues for the current fiscal year exceed those of the prior fiscal year by 8% 5% or more, on a base-to-base comparison excluding one-time revenue gains and losses, revenue in an amount equivalent to that generated by 0.5% of the tax on the sale of personal property and taxable services taxed at a rate of 6% 5 1/2% on the effective date of this paragraph January 1, 1999 must be transferred by the State Controller to the Maine Rainy Day Fund as described in this section.

Each month following a fiscal year during which General Fund revenues exceed those of the previous fiscal year by 8% 5% or more, on a base-to-base comparison excluding one-time revenue gains and losses, the State Controller shall transfer an amount equivalent to that generated over the preceding month by 0.5% of the tax on the sale of personal property and taxable services taxed at a rate of 6% 5 1/2% on the effective date of this