AUGUSTA – State election officials Wednesday gave the go-ahead to a citizen initiative calling for minimum state subsidies for public schools.

The proposal backed by the Maine Municipal Association seeks to require the state to pay 55 percent of funding for public education from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Secretary of State’s office ruled that enough voters’ signatures have been validated to send the proposal to the Legislature. Lawmakers may either approve the question as proposed or send it to voters next fall.

The question asks, “Do you want the state to pay 55 percent of the cost of public education, which includes all special education costs, for the purpose of shifting costs from the property tax to state resources?”

More than 96,000 voters’ signatures were validated, nearly twice the 50,519 needed to advance the initiative, the Secretary of State’s office said.

Citizens to Reduce Local Property Taxes Statewide said its campaign collected what is believed to be the highest number of voter signatures ever gathered in a single day in Maine.

The proposal creates an incentive for towns, cities and schools to reduce expenses and sets into motion a system to reduce government spending, said Dana Lee, president of group.

Lee said the proposal will bring about property tax relief for all Maine property owners.

“This proposal is an excellent starting point to begin the much-needed process of reforming Maine’s tax structure,” Lee added.

Petitions seeking votes on two other proposals are still being reviewed. They include one to allow the casino proposed by two Indian tribes and a separate one to allow slot machines at commercial race tracks.