Maine ranks near bottom for tax subsidy transparency

As lawmakers debates reducing some of the $500 million annual tax breaks for businesses to fill a budget hole, a national group has ranked Maine near the bottom for making it easy for the public to find out how that money is spent.
graphic that shows a state capitol building with overlayed text reading show us the subsidized jobs, an evaluation of state government online disclosure of economic development subsidy awards and outcomes
Of the five Maine tax programs it studied, four were scored zero for failing to disclose online such details who gets the tax breaks and their amounts.

As the Maine legislature debates reducing some of its $500 million annual tax breaks for businesses to fill a budget hole, a national group has ranked Maine near the bottom for making it easy for the public to find out how that money is spent.

Of the five Maine tax programs it studied, four were scored zero for failing to disclose online such details who gets the tax breaks and their amounts.

The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting is calling attention to the study as part of its continuing coverage of the state business tax subsidies, which began in 2012 with its story “State lacks proof that $46 million in Pine Tree Zone tax breaks created jobs.”

Good Jobs First describes itself as “a national policy resource center for grassroots groups and public officials, promoting corporate and government accountability in economic development and smart growth for working families.”

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John Christie

John Christie is the co-founder, former publisher and former senior reporter of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting. He has covered local, state and national politics as a reporter, editor and publisher at newspapers in Maine, Massachusetts and Florida and holds a BA in political science from the University of New Hampshire.

Naomi Schalit

Naomi Schalit is a co-founder of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, which operates The Maine Monitor.
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