Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §685-F is enacted to read:

§685-F.__Funding for services provided to the unorganized

territory

Beginning with the 2005-06 fiscal year, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services shall assess every landowner in the unorganized territory a fee equal to .01% of the most recent equalized state valuation established by the State Tax Assessor for that landowner's real property. The State Tax Assessor shall issue a bill to each such landowner no later than March 1st of each year. The bill is payable on demand. Interest charges on unpaid fees begin on June 30th of each year and are compounded monthly at the interest rate for unpaid property tax as established by the State Tax Assessor for the unorganized territory. These fees must be deposited into the General Fund and used to offset the costs of providing services in the unorganized territory, including, but not limited to, law enforcement, fire protection, game warden services and services provided by Department of Labor personnel.

SUMMARY

This bill assesses landowners in the unorganized territory a fee equal to .01% of equalized state valuation for the landowners' property. The revenue from the fee is used to offset the cost of providing services, such as police and fire protection, game warden services and services provided by Department of Labor personnel, to the unorganized territory.