Few takers for state tax relief

AUGUSTA — Despite chronic complaints by Maine homeowners about excessive property taxes, millions of dollars earmarked for tax relief are going begging.

Last year, $7.4 million in tax-relief funds were left untouched.

Now because the demand was so low for the state’s “circuit-breaker” program, Gov. Angus King wants to scale back funding for the program by almost $10 million over the next two years.

Before that money gets spent on other programs, legislators are trying to figure out why the funds were never used.

“It was set aside for property-tax relief. I want to make sure it is used for that,” said House Speaker Elizabeth H. Mitchell, D-Vassalboro.

Two years ago, Democrats bargained to win $16 million in additional funding for the circuit-breaker program.