Taxes and Budget

A recent history of Maine’s swiftly evolving tax code

For most of the 1990s and 2000s, Maine’s tax code remained relatively stable. Corporate and income tax rates were unchanged and except for modifications to how the […]

Sarah Austin

Posted August 4, 2022

Tags Budget, EITC, Income Tax, Property Tax, Revenue, Sales Tax, Tax Fairness, Taxes

Taxes and Budget

MECEP statement on the Governor’s announced budget change package

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) applauds the governor’s proposed additional funding for behavioral health services as a step toward addressing unmet needs left out of the original budget […]

Posted March 18, 2022

Tags Budget, Health Care, Housing, Property Tax, Taxes

Taxes and Budget

Legislature moving to curb ‘dark store theory’ tax assessments

A report on “dark store theory” by the Maine Center for Economic Policy said that when a big box retailer moves to a new location, it often […]

Sun Journal

Posted March 15, 2022

Tags Dark Stores, Property Tax, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, 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

Taxes and Budget

Maine House kicks off floor votes by lifting cap on clean syringes, taxing ‘dark stores’

A 2019 report by the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) found that of the 25 Maine towns with the highest retail sales, 17 had big box stores appeal […]

Beacon

Posted March 11, 2022

Tags Dark Stores, Property Tax, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness

Taxes and Budget

MECEP statement on passage of bill to stop corporate tax scheme

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) applauds the Maine House of Representatives’ bipartisan vote today to prevent big box retailers from using a tax scheme called […]

Posted March 9, 2022

Tags Dark Stores, Economy, Property Tax, Tax Fairness

Taxes and Budget

‘Dark store theory’ leaves local residents paying more than their fair share in taxes

Even if you have never heard of the “dark store theory,” odds are you’re paying the price for it. While everyday Mainers and small business owners pay […]

Bangor Daily News

Posted March 7, 2022

Tags Budget, Dark Stores, Local, Property Tax, Tax Fairness, Taxes

Maine’s Economy

Legislative jab at big-box retailers' 'dark store theory' up for decision

Most towns and cities don’t have the resources to fight appeals that a denied assessment for large national corporation might bring, said Sarah Austin, lead policy analyst […]

MaineBiz

Posted March 11, 2020

Tags Property Tax, Taxes

Taxes and Budget

Bill would crack down on ‘dark store’ property tax appeals

“Across the country, the large retailers that own big-box stores have used this dubious legal theory to challenge local assessments, arguing they should be taxed as if […]

Portland Press Herald

Posted February 10, 2020

Tags Property Tax

Taxes and Budget

Lawmakers To Debate: Should Maine's Big-Box Stores Be Taxed As If They're Empty Or Full?

Sarah Austin, an analyst for the left-leaning Maine Center for Economic Policy, says the tax reduction requests by Walmart and other large retailers have grown in recent […]

Maine Public

Posted February 10, 2020

Tags Property Tax, Taxes

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A recent history of Maine’s swiftly evolving tax code

MECEP statement on the Governor’s announced budget change package

Legislature moving to curb ‘dark store theory’ tax assessments

Our View: Law would level playing field between communities, big retailers

Maine House kicks off floor votes by lifting cap on clean syringes, taxing ‘dark stores’

MECEP statement on passage of bill to stop corporate tax scheme

‘Dark store theory’ leaves local residents paying more than their fair share in taxes

Legislative jab at big-box retailers' 'dark store theory' up for decision

Bill would crack down on ‘dark store’ property tax appeals

Lawmakers To Debate: Should Maine's Big-Box Stores Be Taxed As If They're Empty Or Full?