January 12,  2009     Reported By: Irwin Gratz

As the legislature debates budget bills in hard economic times, it is also expected to be asked, again, to consider reform of the state's tax structure.   At a forum in Augusta today, Gordon Weil, a former state official and Harpswell selectman, will present a multi-point proposal he worked up with economist Charlie Colgan, former Portland councilor Orlando Delogue, former State Planning Office chief Richard Barringer and consultant Chuck Lawton.   Their proposal would cap property taxes at five percent of a homeowner or renter's income, with the state making up the difference for towns.  To keep the state from losing revenue, it would eliminate the current homestead tax exemption, raise the meals and lodging taxes to regional or national levels, broaden the reach of the sales tax and raise its rate to 6%.   Weil says that would also allow the state to lower the top income tax rate from 8.5% to 6%.