| Section 24.__Limitation on growth of state budget.__The |
Legislature shall establish a General Fund expenditure ceiling |
that limits the growth of General Fund appropriations, |
excluding federal funds received by the General Fund, to 75% |
of the growth in statewide personal income in the prior |
calendar year.__No appropriations in excess of this ceiling |
may be authorized during any legislative session unless the |
Legislature, by a 2/3 vote of the entire elected membership of |
both Houses, sets forth the dollar amount and the rate by |
which the ceiling will be exceeded and the reasons therefor.__ |
Any amount of General Fund revenues that exceeds the limit on |
General Fund expenditures established in this section must be |
used as follows:__1/3 of the amount must be transferred to |
reduce the unfunded liabilities of the Maine State Retirement |
System;__1/3 of the amount must be transferred to a budget |
stabilization fund; and 1/3 of the amount must be returned to |
the taxpayers of the State of Maine.__In the event that the |
unfunded liability is eliminated, that portion of revenue must |
be equally divided between the other 2 purposes. |