News Release
For immediate release: September 4, 2001
For more information contact Chris Lockwood, MMA Executive Director, 207-623-8428 or Ed Barrett, Bangor City Manager, 207-945-4400 or Larry Mead, Portland Assistant City Manager, 207-874-8300.
Maine’s Service Center Communities To Organize
The Maine Service Centers Coalition was formed with the mission of providing a mechanism to articulate the needs of service centers to elected officials; to educate the citizenry as to the importance of healthy and thriving service centers; and to network and collaborate with all municipalities in the pursuit of promoting opportunities for all who visit, work or live in Maine.
The demographic and economic vitality of many of these service center communities has been seeping away for a number of years, as the exodus of middle income families, the reverse migration of dependent populations, the erosion of retail trade, slow job growth, and high property tax rates and burdens to maintain infrastructure and regional services take their toll.
To date, 44 Maine communities have chosen to join the Coalition to begin addressing the key issues facing service centers.
The Coalition will be holding its inaugural meeting Thursday, September 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Kennebec/Penobscot Room at the Augusta Civic Center. Members of the media are invited to attend.
At that time, the Coalition will conduct an organizational business meeting and recognize the Honorable Kenneth Gagnon, State Senator, and Evan Richert, Director of the State Planning Office, for their efforts to promote and enhance the vital role of Maine’s service center communities.
The following is some background information about the Coalition, its goals and objectives.
Background
Service centers are the economic hubs of the state. They are the centers of economic and social activity. They are where people go to work, to school, and to do business. At the same time service centers are struggling to thrive and survive. The Report of the Legislative Task Force on Regional Service Center Communities concluded in 1998 that Maine’s service centers were not growing and faced critical economic problems: disparately high property taxes, inequitable tax burdens, aging infrastructure, declining populations, distressed down towns. In order for Maine’s service centers to thrive this situation must change - STARTING NOW!
Mayor Kaileigh Tara of Lewiston initiated this effort last summer, inviting representatives from 18 Maine towns and cities to discuss how to work together to change state policies and practices. From this beginning a core group of officials representing some dozen municipalities formed an ad-hoc committee that worked through this past winter and spring to develop an ongoing capacity to promote the interests of Maine’s service centers. To accomplish this service centers would need a consistent, informed and effective presence in Augusta. The committee proposed to create a statewide organization of Maine’s service centers. The Maine Municipal Association developed a proposal to provide a structure for and organizational support to the Maine Service Center Coalition (MSCC). This structure recognizes the interdependence between the two organizations, promotes cooperation and collaboration, and preserves the ability for each to set policies and objectives independently as needed.
In mid-May an invitation was issued to over 70 municipalities to attend an organization and information meeting in Augusta regarding the Maine Service Center Coalition. Thirty-five municipalities representing all regions of the state were present. Draft by-laws were reviewed and revisions suggested. Purpose, membership and organizational structure were discussed. There was broad support from those present to take the next step of formal incorporation and organization.
What Is The Benefit Of Organizing The Maine Service Center Coalition?
Awareness: Legislators and policymakers deal with a hundred different issues and interests. It is essential that service center needs do not get lost in the crowd of issues. The MSCC will work to keep our issues front and center.
Advocacy: Service centers will have the ability to retain a sustained and knowledgeable lobbying presence at the legislature. Such an ongoing effort is essential.
Credibility: Being organized is important. It will give service centers a seat at the table when our issues are under consideration.
Visibility: Legislators and policymakers in Augusta are just like other people. The more often they see and hear from service centers, the more likely they are to give us attention.
Continuity: It often takes more than one go-around to get something accomplished in the legislature. It may require two, three, or more years to accomplish a goal. It is critical to have continuity from one year to the next, and from one legislature to the next.
Prepared and ready: Let’s face it. Municipal managers have so much going on from day-to-day that it’s hard to pay attention to Augusta, and to be prepared and ready when issues come up. That will be the purpose and responsibility of the Maine Service Center Coalition.
What Are The Issues That Demand Attention?
These are some of the issues affecting service centers that require attention this year:
Revenue Sharing 2 – The Legislature passed a .1% increase for revenue sharing 2, scheduled to take effect in January 2003. We need to assure that this remains in place and work to increase the total funding for revenue sharing.
School Renovation Funding – There will be a $15 million bond issue on the ballot this November that must pass. The Legislature needs to authorize additional funds for the 2002 ballot.
Local Option Taxes – Legislation has been carried over to the next session. At a minimum consideration will be given to allowing municipalities to fund specific capital projects with a temporary add-on to the sales tax.
Funding County Jails - There will be a county-led effort in the upcoming legislative session to require the State to fund the full cost of county jails. While it would benefit service centers, how this would be funded is unclear but critical.
2002 Election for Governor – The candidates must be required to identify how they will end the state’s inequitable reliance on the local property tax.
Conference Center Funding – A statewide coalition to promote funding for conference centers in Lewiston, Bangor, Portland, and Augusta will urge the legislature to add a penny to the meals/lodging tax. This effort must be done in coordination with service centers so that our taxation and funding needs are given adequate priority.
We Can’t Afford To Wait Another Year
Service Centers must build on the interest and awareness that began three years ago with the Task Force Report. Most of our communities are facing tax increases this year and in the next year as well. The 2000 census has documented what we already knew: population is shifting to suburban and rural towns. Timing is critical. We must build on the momentum; promote the growing awareness of our issues in Augusta, and work cooperatively to achieve our mutual goals.