To the editor:
Several years ago, New Jersey was concerned about its farmers’ ability to pay rising property taxes, and the resulting loss of farming as an occupation because of high taxes. To solve this problem, they developed a separate category for taxing farm property that was lower than the standard rates. It has been very helpful.
New Jersey also passed a Mount Laurel provision aimed at providing housing for those low-income personnel needed to support businesses that serviced the wealthy, so that they could remain close to the communities in which they worked.
Why can’t Maine do the same for categories of businesses that they want to preserve, such as fishing, lobstering and clamming? Setting up a lower tax bracket for the homes, property and buildings and equipment used by and for those in these businesses would be included. It might be one way to allow them to continue to operate in the face of rapidly rising property taxes in shore areas.
George Smith
Lakewood, New Jersey
Under Maine law, land in two categories – “Tree Growth” and “Farm and Open Space” – can be taxed at a lower “current use” value instead of the “highest and best” standard applied to other real estate. A referendum aimed at amending the state Constitution to add a “Fishing” category failed several years ago, but the question could be brought back in the future. – ed.