Any interesting local ballot measures this year?

Submitted by MrsBeansAppleSnaps t3_y3wgb7 in Maine

Portland's insanely long list of citizen initiatives has been much publicized this year but I'm curious what other interesting or important ballot measures others towns and cities are voting on. I know Cape Elizabeth voters are up in arms about a tiny zoning change to their town center (news flash, your "town center" is a tiny strip mall, a school, and a library...any change could only be positive) but what else are people voting on this year, anything interesting?

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Sufficient_Risk1684 t1_isbaw69 wrote

The Portland restrict rent increases to less then fake inflation cpi is amusing in that it's effectively negative compound interest.

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King_O_Walpole t1_isbgjim wrote

Boo who less money for lanlords

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eljefino t1_islrfkm wrote

Do you want more housing choices and new construction? Because rent control is not how you get it.

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SodaFlavoredSweat t1_isbh46f wrote

The Greely School District is looking for $74M to build a new elementary school. The bond goes for 30 years and will cost more than $100M total.

Quite a few local people are freaking out on the town Facebook pages and saying a yes vote will increase taxes so much, senior citizens will be forced to cut their meds in half and eat cat food to survive.

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MrsBeansAppleSnaps OP t1_isbzwdx wrote

Seems demonstrably false given the property tax freeze for seniors coming next year. That does sound like an incredibly expensive school though, not sure I'd be voting in favor of that one...

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maineff t1_isd3b4w wrote

The property tax freeze will be bad for young people as the state continues to lose their young to an increasing older population. One day the state will not fund the lost revenue to the municipalities and taxes for young people will soar!

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eljefino t1_islrmy8 wrote

I'm curious how many elderly with multiple properties will actually domicile here. See a lot of florida plates belonging to the six-months-and-a-day crowd. Their motor vehicle excise taxes will partially offset this naked giveaway.

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ppitm t1_isba3dt wrote

Maybe I could get Portland DSA to back a referendum to firebomb the Cape Elizabeth town center...

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basedvulpes t1_isbd3j0 wrote

Strimling would never support firebombing his own town!

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AnotherRoughWinter t1_iscn5bo wrote

> any change could only be positive

2016 has entered the chat

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