By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

During the Kennebunkport Selectmen’s Aug. 14 discussion of articles to be placed on November’s town warrant, they approved a proposed ordinance to create a local property tax assistance program. 

Town Manager Larry Mead said the town’s program would “piggy back” the state’s property tax refund “Circuit Breaker Program.”

He said the proposed local version would match 50 percent of the refund Kennebunkport residents receive from the state, up to $500 per applicant. Criteria for participation includes having received a refund from the state program, owning a home in Kennebunkport and having been a resident for 10 years prior to the application, Mead said. 

“If residents vote to approve the program in November, funding would be set each year at town meeting. As long as the number of qualifying people and the totals to be distributed does not exceed the amount appropriated, everyone who applies will receive their refund,” Mead said. 

If the total amount to be refunded exceeds the funds appropriated, Mead said the town would prorate the refunds so each applicant would receive money, but probably less than what they qualify for.

Mead said in past years, approximately 280 Kennebunkport residents have benefited from the state’s property tax assistance program, and he estimates the town could expect as many to apply for the local program.

Currently, Maine’s property tax relief program offers between $10 and $2,000 in property tax assistance to qualifying households, said Maine Income Tax Division Director Dennis Doiron. 

“Generally speaking, the qualifications are somewhat complicated, but a multi-member household earning up to $80,000 and $60,000 for a single member will qualify. We look at household income and tax burden. So to qualify for the multi-member household earning up to $80,000, they must have spent more than four percent of their income on property taxes,” Doiron said. 

Applications for the state program began Aug. 1 and will be accepted through May 31, 2009 to provide refunds for property taxes paid in 2007. Doiron said so far the state has received 3,000 more applications than this time last year, but he couldn’t say whether it was an indication of more interest in the program or if it is because residents applied sooner. 

If Kennebunkport approves the property tax assistance ordinance in November, residents would vote on the amount of money to be appropriated for the program during the 2009 town meeting. The program would begin accepting applications after Aug. 1, 2009 for property taxes paid during 2008.