MMA CLOSED

Maine Municipal Association will be closing at 12 noon for the remainder of the day on Friday, December 14 to allow our employees to attend our Staff Appreciation Holiday Luncheon.

STATE HOLIDAYS

The State of Maine’s 2008 Holiday Observance schedule is as follows:

Holidays                                                     Date Observed
New Year’s Day                                          Tues, Jan 1
Martin Luther King Day                           Mon, Jan.21
Presidents’ Day                                           Mon, Feb 18
Patriot’s Day                                               Mon, Apr 21
Memorial Day                                             Mon, May 26
Independence Day                                      Fri, July 4
Labor Day                                                    Mon, Sept 1
Columbus Day                                             Mon, Oct 13
Veterans’ Day                                              Tues, Nov 11
Thanksgiving                                               Thurs, Nov. 27/
                                                                        Fri, Nov. 28
Christmas Day                                             Thurs, Dec 25
NOTE:  Holidays that fall on Saturday are observed on the preceding Friday, and holidays that fall on Sunday are observed the following Monday.

LD 1 INCOME GROWTH FACTOR

The State Planning Office (SPO) has announced that the income growth factor used in the calculation of the LD 1 spending limit for municipalities and counties has been set at 2.24% for 2008. 

The income growth factor, calculated as an average of the change in total personal income less inflation for the last 10 calendar years, is one of the two figures used to calculate the LD 1 tax commitment limit.   The other factor used in the calculation of the LD 1 limit is the property growth factor. 

Please note that 2.24% income growth factor applies to the calendar year communities preparing 2008 budgets and to fiscal year communities preparing FY 09 budgets (July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009).  If you have any questions about this calculation or LD 1, please feel free to contact Kate Dufour at 1-800-452-8786 or kdufour@memun.org

ELECTED OFFICIALS WORKSHOP

Maine Municipal Association concludes its 2007 Elected Officials Workshop (EOW) series with offerings at the Black Bear Inn in Orono on December 5 and at the Holiday Inn Express in Saco on December 6.  The workshop runs from 4:30-8:30 p.m. at both locations.

This workshop is a “must” for newly elected officials and can be a refresher for veteran municipal officials.  The workshop covers such topics as the Right-to-Know law, municipal liability, home rule and ordinance authority, and much more.

Registration is $40 (half that for newly-elected officials).  For more information, contact MMA’s Training & Affiliate office, 1-800-452-8786.

SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION

The Maine Town & City Management Association (MTCMA) will offer a workshop titled “School Consolidation: Planning for an Uncertain Future” at the Holiday Inn Express in Saco on December 7.

The workshop runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The workshop format will include a panel discussion, roundtables, and breakout sessions.  Panelists include: James Morse, superintendent of SAD 47; Nathan Poore, town manager in Falmouth; Dale Douglas, executive director of Maine School Management Association; and Geoff Herman of MMA.

Registration is $60. For more information, contact the MMA Training & Affiliate office at 1-800-452-8786.