| | Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the | Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the | Constitution of Maine be proposed: |
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| | Constitution, Art. IX, §8, sub-§6 is enacted to read: |
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| | 6.__Personal property.__Beginning with property tax year | 2004, all business personal property, as defined by the | Legislature, is exempt from property taxation, except that a | municipality may adopt an ordinance taxing business personal | property based on the just value of the property or on any | other basis authorized by the Legislature. |
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| | Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date. Resolved: That | the municipal officers of this State shall notify the | inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations | to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a | statewide election, at a statewide election, on the Tuesday | following the first Monday of November following the passage | of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the | amendment proposed in this resolution by voting upon the | following question: |
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| "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to exempt | business personal property from taxation, but to permit a | municipality to tax business personal property?" |
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| | The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall | vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by | a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square | below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, | sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation | meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the | same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The | Governor shall review the returns and, if it appears that a | majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the | amendment, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay | and the amendment becomes part of the Constitution on the date | of the proclamation; and be it further |
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| | Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of | State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and | plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this resolution | necessary to carry out the purpose of this referendum. |
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