| | Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts and resolves of the Legislature do | not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless | enacted as emergencies; and |
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| | Whereas, the value of property within a municipality has a | strong effect on the calculation of county taxes, school | appropriations and municipal revenue sharing; and |
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| | Whereas, the City of Westbrook derives a large portion of its | tax valuation from the presence of the former SD Warren plant, | now owned by Sappi Fine Paper North America; and |
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| | Whereas, Sappi has recently announced the closure of its pulp | mill and a machine that makes coated base paper at the facility | in Westbrook; and |
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| | Whereas, not only will this closure adversely affect | approximately 315 employees, but the property valuation of the | plant has decreased immensely, causing a decrease in property tax | revenues for the City of Westbrook; and |
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| | Whereas, unless immediate action is taken to account for this | decrease in valuation, the City of Westbrook will also suffer | through the loss of significant revenues based on the decreased | valuation of the Sappi plant; and |
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| | Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create | an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and | require the following legislation as immediately necessary for | the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, | therefore, be it |
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| | Sec. 1. Modify 1999 and 2000 state valuations. Resolved: That notwithstanding | the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, the 1999 and 2000 state | valuations for the City of Westbrook, for the purposes of | calculating county taxes, school appropriations and municipal | revenue sharing funds, must be based on a valuation that values | the property of Sappi Fine Paper North America in the City of | Westbrook at $125,000,000 and $95,000,000, respectively. |
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| | Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, | this resolve takes effect when approved. |
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