Jon McKane and John McCain

Saltwater Fishing License Story - PPH - 6/5/07

AUGUSTA — With a federal requirement looming in less than two years, Maine lawmakers Monday took a first step toward a study into how a recreational fishing license system would be implemented in the state's coastal waters.

Rep. Jon McKane speaks during a State House press conference hosted by the Coalition for Coastal Workforce Housing.  The Newcastle legislator voiced his support for affordable housing efforts in the Midcoast region and encouraged the public to take advantage of property tax assistance programs.  

House Republican Office

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                For more information:

March 8, 2007                                                                             Jay Finegan, 287-1445

Rep. Jon McKane Voices Support

for Affordable Housing in Coastal Areas

AUGUSTA – State Representative Jon McKane (R-Newcastle) shared his concerns about affordable housing in Maine and offered some advice to property owners struggling to pay their taxes. His remarks, made last week, came during a State House event sponsored by the Coalition for Coastal Workforce Housing. The coalition gathered in Augusta to highlight the need for affordable housing, particularly on Maine's coast and islands, and to identify possible legislative solutions.

“It is becoming harder and harder for working Maine people to live in the communities in which they work,” said Rep. McKane, an electrical contractor serving his second term in the Legislature. “One of the reasons is our system of property taxes. These taxes are based not on our ability to pay or what was paid for the property but on the quirks of the real estate market. In that sense, it is the most unjust tax of all.”

According to MaineHousing data collected from 2001-2005, the median price of a home in Maine has increased by 54.8 percent over the past four years and by 71.7 percent on Maine islands during the same period. The median home price on Maine’s islands was $272,500 in 2005. To afford a home at this price typically requires an income of $85,035, more than twice the actual median income in Maine’s island communities.

Rep. McKane stressed the need for overhauling the current property tax system but acknowledged the slow pace of tax reform. In the meantime, he wants Mainers to take advantage of two property tax-assistance programs already in place – the Homestead Exemption and Property Tax and Rent Refund Program, commonly called the circuit breaker. The Homestead Exemption exempts $13,000 of taxable value from a resident’s home. The circuit breaker provides refunds up to $2,000, based on household income and property tax bills. 

More than 50 bill titles have been submitted during the current legislative session to address affordable housing issues. Rep. McKane is sponsoring legislation that would make a number of changes to the Property Tax and Rent Refund program to encourage participation.

Story on mailers on Maine Things Considered:

http://www.mainepublicradio.org/radio/ondemand/mainethings.html

Rep. McKane finds Effort and Reward in Constituent Work 

Augustine Lett and Representative Jonathan McKane in front of Augustine’s restaurant in Damariscotta

Representative Jonathan McKane has continued to visit businesses and homes throughout District 51 this summer and fall and keeps an ongoing connection with his constituents. 

 “Constituency work is day to day, year round, and is one of the most important and rewarding responsibilities of being a State Representative,” said McKane.  “Issues can be as diverse as simply connecting an individual with a needed state resource to helping a business negotiate the occasional red tape of the state bureaucracy.”

McKane dropped in on Augustine’s restaurant in Damariscotta Friday as Augustine’s one year anniversary approaches.  “A year ago this Thanksgiving was opening weekend for Augustine and it was good to see his business doing so well,” said McKane.

 “I’m glad to be successful so I can provide employment opportunities and give back to the community when I can,” replied Augustine.    

 Preparing for that opening weekend last year was not without some anxiety.

 Augustine remembers it vividly.  “We had bought all of our food, our staff was ready and we had advertised for our big opening weekend,” he explained.  “Our inspections were complete, but our liquor license was being delayed in Augusta and they said they wouldn’t be able to get to it until Monday.  I had called everyone I could call and I could get no results.  Finally I called State Representative, Jonathan McKane.”

 McKane recalls, “I called the State Health Inspector and State Liquor Commission and, after several hours of phone calls and faxes, Augustine had his license.”

 It seems the Liquor Commission needed a copy of the health inspection.  All agencies were going to use “snail mail” to send the various permits to each other – when they got around to it.

 “No one was going to do anything,” said Augustine.  That tells me something about the business climate in Maine.  We pay property taxes, liquor taxes, payroll taxes and all of that helps the state.  You would think they would want to be more helpful.”

 Augustine emphasized, “The community needs to know who is there to help when it’s needed.”

 In other constituency issues, McKane has dealt with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Bureau of Licensing, the Department of Education, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Marine Resources, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General and many more.

 “Every constituents issue is important to that individual or business and needs to be taken seriously,” said McKane.  “A representative is the link to state government - a voice for the people of the district - that is why we are elected.”

View from summit in Baxter State Park

Rep. Jon McKane (R-Newcastle) captured this view from the summit of South Turner Mountain in Baxter State Park looking south to Katahdin Lake on Sept. 11. As the result of LD 2015 passed by the 122nd Maine Legislature, Katahdin Lake and 6,000 surrounding acres are now destined to become part of Baxter State Park and remain forever wild.  As the result of a compromise, approximately 3,000 acres will remain open to “traditional” uses such as hunting and snowmobiling. 

Housing issues on Monhegan