Referendum questions put in order for November ballot

AUGUSTA – A public drawing held Tuesday in the secretary of state’s office determined the order of two citizen initiatives scheduled to appear on Maine’s November ballots.

The two questions on property-tax limits and bear-hunting restrictions will appear as follows:

. Question 1: “Do you want to limit property taxes to 1 percent of the assessed value of the property?”

. Question 2: “Do you want to make it a crime to hunt bears with bait, traps or dogs, except to protect property, public safety or for research?”

State law requires referendum questions to be organized on the ballot by category. People’s veto questions would be first, followed by citizen initiatives, bond questions, constitutional amendments and questions put forth by the Legislature.

“This drawing is part of Maine’s electoral process. It helps the public to focus on the issues that will appear on the ballot, and assists organizers – both for and against these questions – to develop their educational materials,” Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky said in a statement.

This fall’s general election is slated for Nov. 2.

Question 1, the so-called Palesky initiative, would cap property taxes at $10 per $1,000 of assessed value, based on values in 1996-97. It also would limit assessment increases to 2 percent a year while the property’s ownership remains in a family.

In April, a bare majority of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court said in an advisory opinion that at least part of the proposed property-tax cap would be unlawful.

Question 2 has opened in Maine a debate that has been conducted in other states.

Of the 29 states that have bear hunting, 18 permit baiting or hounding or both.