Taxes and Budget Senate approves bill to limit ‘dark store’ tax challenges A report by the Maine Center for Economic Policy found large retailers in Maine sought $184 million in reduced valuations from 2015-19. The average reduction sought was […] Portland Press Herald Posted March 22, 2022 Tags Dark Stores, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Two Maine groups make case for decriminalizing drug use and possession The Maine Center for Economic Policy and the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine discussed findings from their new report “A Better Path for Maine: The Case […] Portland Press Herald Posted March 21, 2022 Tags Budget, Revenue, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Our View: Law would level playing field between communities, big retailers Since 2015, large retailers in Maine have lowered their valuations by more than $16 million combined using this strategy, costing cities and towns hundreds of thousands of […] Portland Press Herald Posted March 14, 2022 Tags Dark Stores, Property Tax, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Maine’s Economy Maine businesses and residents feel inflation’s bite Inflation is an economywide problem, but much of the harm will fall on those already struggling to make ends meet, said Arthur Phillips, economic policy analyst at […] Portland Press Herald Posted February 14, 2022 Tags Coronavirus, Economic Security, Inequality
Jobs and Income Mills administration cracking down on employer wage and hour violations Although recently bolstered, the team of inspectors remains smaller than it was 50 years ago, which means relying on worker complaints, said James Myall, a policy analyst […] Portland Press Herald Posted February 6, 2022 Tags Job Quality, Jobs
Jobs and Income Bill would make more than 30,000 salaried workers in Maine eligible for overtime Maine is among a handful of states that calculate their salary thresholds above the federal standard of $35,680. Raising overtime standards would group Maine with eight states […] Portland Press Herald Posted January 28, 2022 Tags Job Quality, Jobs
Taxes and Budget Maine Voices: All too often, business tax breaks don’t work for Mainers Programs that use public funds should be well designed so that money raised through taxes is not wasted, strengthens our communities and promotes long-term growth and opportunity […] Portland Press Herald Posted January 1, 2022 Tags Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Jobs and Income Maine records slight job gains in October as labor crunch continues Gov. Janet Mills’ announcement this week that all Maine adults are eligible for a vaccine booster shot could help improve the state’s job recovery, said Arthur Phillips, […] Portland Press Herald Posted November 19, 2021 Tags Coronavirus, Federal, Jobs
Jobs and Income Our View: Getting Maine back to work According to MECEP, 25,000 people were out of work because of a lack of child care, keeping one out of eight mothers out of the workforce. There […] Portland Press Herald Posted November 14, 2021 Tags Children, Coronavirus, Job Quality, Jobs
Jobs and Income Maine’s job recovery stalled in September as COVID-19 surged “I think we can finally put that theory to bed,” said Arthur Phillips, a policy analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, about the idea that […] Portland Press Herald Posted October 22, 2021 Tags Coronavirus, Employment, Unemployment