On August 16, 2018, the Office of the State Economist published a report on the likely economic impacts of the proposed universal health care referendum. A copy of the report was transmitted to the members of the Maine Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs and Joint Standing Committee on Taxation.

Formally known as “An Act To Establish Universal Home Care for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities”, Question 1 is the only initiated bill that will be presented to Maine voters during this November’s referendum election. The proposal would create three different taxes—a 1.9 percent excise payroll tax on employers, a 1.9 percent wage income tax on employees and a 3.8 percent income tax—on individuals and families with wage or combined household income of more than $128,400. The goal of the report is to provide a transparent, detailed analysis of the likely impacts of the surtax on our economy.

A copy of the report appears immediately below.

Click here to download (PDF, 345kb) a copy of the report.