AUGUSTA – State officials are broadening their efforts to let renters and homeowners know about Maine’s expanded Circuit Breaker tax refund program.

Maine Revenue Services is sending more than 200,000 applications to previous rebate recipients and others who’ve expressed an interest in the program.

Television commercials about the program are scheduled to air this fall, and legislators are distributing applications. Forms can also be filled out online.

Thousands more taxpayers are eligible for Circuit Breaker rebates, with the number of eligible homeowners and renters now at more than 200,000, according to legislative Democrats.

Maine Revenue Services said the state paid more than $43 million to 92,000 homeowners and renters who participated in the program during the last application cycle from Aug. 1, 2005, through May 31 of this year. The average Maine homeowner or renter received $469 toward reducing their property taxes, while some received checks as high as $2,000, officials said.

On the Net: Information about Circuit Breaker: www.mainesenate.org/taxreform