Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §5681, sub-§3, as amended by IB 2003, c. 2, §2, is further amended to read:

3. Revenue-sharing funds. To strengthen the state-municipal fiscal relationship pursuant to the findings and objectives of subsection 1, there is established the Local Government Fund. To provide additional support for municipalities experiencing a higher-than-average property tax burden, there is established the Disproportionate Tax Burden Fund. To assist those municipalities that collaborate with other municipalities, counties or state agencies to obtain savings in the cost of delivering local and regional governmental services there is established the Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Local and Regional Services, which is administered pursuant to chapter 231.

Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA c. 231 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 231

FUND FOR THE EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF LOCAL

AND REGIONAL SERVICES

§6201.__Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

1.__Commissioner.__"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services.

2.__Cooperative services grant.__"Cooperative services grant" means a grant award from the fund pursuant to section 6208 to cover eligible costs of a qualifying project.

3.__Department.__"Department" means the Department of Administrative and Financial Services.

4.__Eligible applicant.__"Eligible applicant" means a municipality, county or regional government subdivision.

5.__Eligible costs.__"Eligible costs" means the actual and direct expenses incurred in implementing a cooperative services grant or a planning grant awarded under section 6208, including expenses incurred in connection with the following activities for cooperative services grants and planning grants.