| | Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts and resolves of the Legislature do | not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless | enacted as emergencies; and |
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| | Whereas, the value of property within a municipality has a | strong effect on the calculation of school appropriations; and |
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| | Whereas, the City of Westbrook derives a large portion of its | tax valuation from the presence of the former S.D. Warren plant, | now owned by Sappi Fine Paper North America; and |
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| | Whereas, Sappi Fine Paper North America has recently announced | the closure of its pulp mill and a machine that makes coated base | paper at the facility in the City of Westbrook; and |
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| | Whereas, not only will this closure adversely affect | approximately 315 employees, but also the property valuation of | the plant has decreased immensely, causing a decrease in property | tax revenues for the City of Westbrook; and |
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| | Whereas, unless immediate action is taken to account for this | decrease in valuation, the City of Westbrook will also suffer | through the loss of significant revenues based on the decreased | valuation of the Sappi Fine Paper North America plant; and |
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| | Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create | an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and | require the following legislation as immediately necessary for | the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, | therefore, be it |
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| | Sec. 1. Modify 1999 state valuations. Resolved: That, notwithstanding the | Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, the 1999 state valuation for | the City of Westbrook, for the purposes of calculating school | appropriations, must be based on a valuation that values the | property of Sappi Fine Paper North America in the City of | Westbrook at $140,000,000; and be it further |
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| | Sec. 2. Appropriation. Resolved: That the following funds are | appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purposes of | this resolve. |
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| General Purpose Aid for Local Schools |
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