Join MFPC in STRONG OPPOSITION to Part O of the Supplemental Budget, the elimination of the BETR program
This week, the Appropriations Committee will hold joint public hearings on LD 2212, which is the Governor’s supplemental budget. Part O of this budget would swiftly sunset the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement (BETR) program, reducing reimbursements by 50% for tax year 2025 and completely eliminating the program from 2026 forward.
This dramatic cut and subsequent outright elimination would have a significant impact on approximately 60 forest products companies, retroactively cutting reimbursements by approximately $1.6 million last year and $3.1 million this year.
The proposed cut to FPI businesses is equivalent of the average wage for approximately 52 full time jobs, and this surprise program elimination strongly signals a change in policy to businesses that their investments are not valued and that our regulatory environment is unpredictable. Cancelling this existing tax benefit program would discourage businesses from investing in new and upgraded equipment, as there is no certainty that tax promises made by Maine government can be relied upon. As a capital-intensive industry, that is highly problematic, as continued investments are necessary for forest products companies to remain competitive and profitable in the face of increasingly difficult market conditions.
If you’re one of the 60 FPI companies that uses the BETR program, (and even you don’t) we highly recommend that you weigh in with testimony in strong opposition to Part O of LD 2122, either online or in-person.
Online testimony may be submitted at the link below by selecting “Public Hearing,” “Appropriations and Financial Affairs,” and February 19, at 9:00AM: https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/
The tax portion of the budget is scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday February 19 at 9:00AM in the Appropriations Committee in State House Room 228. If you need assistance submitting testimony, or if you would like us to deliver your testimony alongside ours, please reach out to our team. Please also let us know if you intend to testify.
To reach out the the members of the committee, please use the below contact information:
Taxation Committee
Senator Nicole Grohoski of Hancock- Chair
D – Senate District 7
Nicole.Grohoski@legislature.maine.gov
Senator Bruce Bickford of Androscoggin
R – Senate District 20
Bruce.Bickford@legislature.maine.gov
Senator Michael Tipping of Penobscot
D – Senate District 8
Michael.Tipping@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Dan Sayre of Kennebunk- Chair
D – House District 135
Daniel.Sayre@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Ed Crockett of Portland
D – House District 112
Edward.Crockett@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Gary Friedmann of Bar Harbor
D – House District 14
Gary.Friedmann@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Lori Gramlich of Old Orchard Beach
D – House District 131
Lori.Gramlich@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Thomas Lavigne of Berwick
R – House District 148
Thomas.Lavigne@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Ann Matlack of St. George
D – House District 43
Ann.Matlack@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Tracy Quint of Hodgdon
R – House District 8
Tracy.Quint@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Shelley Rudnicki of Fairfield
R – House District 67
Shelley.Rudnicki@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Gregg Swallow of Houlton
R – House District 7
Gregory.Swallow@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Russell White of Ellsworth
R – House District 13
Russell.White@legislature.maine.gov
Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee
Senator Margaret Rotundo of Androscoggin- Chair
D – Senate District 21
Margaret.Rotundo@legislature.maine.gov
Senator Sue Bernard of Aroostook
R – Senate District 1
Susan.Bernard@legislature.maine.gov
Senator Cameron Reny of Lincoln
D – Senate District 13
Cameron.Reny@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Drew Gattine of Westbrook- Chair
D – House District 126
Andrew.Gattine@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Amy Arata of New Gloucester
R – House District 104
Amy.Arata@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Mark Blier of Buxton
R – House District 138
Mark.Blier@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Michael Brennan of Portland
D – House District 115
Michael.Brennan@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Deqa Dhalac of South Portland
D – House District 120
Deqa.Dhalac@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Jack Ducharme of Madison
R – House District 71
John.Ducharme@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Kenneth Fredette of Newport
R – House District 33
Kenneth.Fredette@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Ann Matlack of St. George
D – House District 43
Ann.Matlack@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Ambureen Rana of Bangor
D – House District 21
Ambureen.Rana@legislature.maine.gov
Representative Holly Stover of Boothbay
D – House District 48
Holly.Stover@legislature.maine.gov