Whereas, on the weekend of March 16th and 17th, 2002, a devastating fire broke out in St. John Plantation; and

Whereas, as a result of the fire, the area has experienced a sudden and severe disruption of valuation; and

Whereas, absent this special legislation, there would be no avenue for the State to calculate an adjusted state valuation for St. John Plantation for the year 2002; and

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

Sec. 1. State valuation for St. John Plantation for year 2002. Resolved: That, due to the sudden and devastating fire that began in St. John Plantation the weekend of March 16th and 17th, 2002, notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 208 or 208-A, the State Tax Assessor shall reduce the state valuation for St. John Plantation for the year 2002 to $9,480,000; and be it further

Sec. 2. State valuation for St. John Plantation for year 2003. Resolved: That St. John Plantation may request a reduction in its state valuation under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 208-A for the year 2003 based on the reduction in value of the sawmill owned by Irving Forest Products without meeting the threshold of the statewide average tax rate under Title 36, section 208-A, subsection 2, paragraph C.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

In recognition of the sudden and devastating fire that began in St. John Plantation on March 16, 2002, this resolve directs the State Tax Assessor to reduce the state valuation for St. John Plantation for the year 2002 by 21% to $9,480,000.

This resolve also authorizes St. John Plantation to seek an adjustment of its state valuation for the year 2003 without