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Poll results

Sponsored by: GoNetspeed, a fiber internet provider

Historic tax credit increase

The legislature’s taxation committee scheduled a hearing for May 9 to discuss "An Act to Expand the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit," which would increase the amount of money available to renovate and update privately owned historic buildings four-fold from $250,000 to $1 million.

Should the Maine Legislature increase funds in the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program?
Yes, it's important to preserve the state's historic places (53%, 169 VOTES)
Yes, owners of historic homes have more expenses for upkeep (4%, 13 VOTES)
The money would be better spent on other projects (6%, 18 VOTES)
Maine taxpayers should not fund privately owned properties that already get a tax break (37%, 117 VOTES)
Poll Description

Sponsored by: GoNetspeed, a fiber internet provider

Historic tax credit increase

The legislature’s taxation committee scheduled a hearing for May 9 to discuss "An Act to Expand the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit," which would increase the amount of money available to renovate and update privately owned historic buildings four-fold from $250,000 to $1 million.

  • 317 Votes
  • 6 Comments
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6 Comments

  • May 9, 2023

    People are always distressed when they see historic structures deteriorate. Tax incentives encourage owners to rehabilitate property with their own money.

  • May 8, 2023

    Preservation of historic properties increases the property tax base in communities. All residents and visitors benefit from well maintained properties. Community investment in historic properties returns almost three times the cost in benefits to the community, including increased property values, community quality of life and appealing to visitors. Tax breaks and funding for historic properties are an investment in our communities past to bring us into the future by protecting and building on the assets we have. Maine desperately needs to shore up historical properties

  • Bev Uhlenhake
    May 8, 2023

    The choices above don't cover the real reasons for expansion. The HRTC helps reinvigorate downtowns because these funds assist in getting projects that don't pencil to pencil. This is about economic development; the preservation of buildings is a side benefit.

  • May 8, 2023

    The bill would allow commercial projects with qualified expenses of up to $1M to apply for a credit on that amount. Right now, only commercial projects with budgets of $250,000 or less can apply. Since commercial construction is so expense now, almost no project can get done for less than $250K; as a result, virtually no one has used the program in 15 years (something the Maine Office of Program Evaluation & Government Accountability pointed out in its report last year). These projects aren't "already getting a tax break" -- they're sitting dormant because the numbers don't pencil.

  • May 8, 2023

    This is an incentive that will preserve historic downtowns. Using the words "tax break" is framing the issue for the opposition...how about you reframed that option to say "Maine taxpayers should not fund an incentive for privately owned properties and developers?" See the difference? You will get different poll results depending on how you frame the question!