Monday, January 13, 2025
The State Treasurer has established 7.5% as the maximum interest rate that municipalities may charge for delinquent property taxes committed during calendar year 2025. Note that interest does not actually accrue on unpaid taxes unless a municipality’s legislative body (town meeting or town/city council) establishes the rate of interest and the date or dates after which interest will accrue. This must be done annually at a meeting at which the municipal legislative body votes to raise a...
Friday, January 10, 2025
In collaboration with MMA Legal Services and MMA Human Resources, the Maine Department of Labor recently published a new Maine Paid Family & Medical Leave Act Frequently Ask Questions document focused on addressing the issues being raised by town and city leaders. The answers to your pressing questions can be reviewed here.
MDOL has also established a PFML Hotline for Employers, Self-Employed Individuals and Tribal Governments. You can contact PFML staff with questions about...
Monday, November 25, 2024
MMA Legal Services is updating municipal employers on a federal court decision that has struck down recent U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regulations that had increased minimum salary requirements for employees covered by certain overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
For more information on the Court's ruling and its impact on municipal employers, click here.
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
MMA Legal Services wants to remind municipal officials that the deadline for grantees to “obligate” unspent American Rescue Plan Act State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (“ARPA” funds) is fast approaching.
ARPA grant funds must be “obligated” by December 31, 2024, and most must be expended by December 31, 2026 (except for projects under the Surface Transportation projects and Title I eligible use categories, for which funds must be expended...
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
The 2024 MMA Model GA Ordinance and all the Appendices containing the 2024 GA Maximums are now available on the MMA Legal Services GA Manual webpage. (See the drop down menus “Ordinance Maximums” and “Municipal GA Ordinance.”)
By October 1st of each year, the municipal officers (selectboard or council) are required to adopt the new appendices containing the yearly general assistance (GA) maximum levels of assistance. A public hearing is...
Friday, August 9, 2024
MMA Legal Services has recently issued a new Supplement No. 5 to the 2016 revised edition of the Guide to Municipal Liens. This supplement includes updated tax lien forms that have been revised to comply with legislation that takes effect August 9, 2024. These updated forms include changes to the information contained in the 30-Day Demand Notice and the Notice of Impending Foreclosure – forms that are required as part of the tax lien mortgage foreclosure process under 36...
Thursday, June 6, 2024
MMA Legal Services is reminding members that employer contributions under Maine's New Paid Family Medical Leave ("PFML") law will be required beginning January 1, 2025. See the Legal Update linked below for more information on PFML premium requirements.
Click here for details (login required)
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
MMA Legal Services has recently issued a new edition of the Municipal Officers Manual. The May 2024 edition replaces the March 2016 revised edition of the Manual and has been updated to reflect recent legislative changes and court decisions impacting municipal officer duties and local government functions. A digital version of the updated manual may be accessed or downloaded by members at no charge. A print version is also available for purchase - click here to order a print...
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Last month the Maine Legislature enacted PL 2023, chapter 640, which again revised required sale procedures for real property that is tax-acquired under the real estate tax lien mortgage process (36 M.R.S. §§ 942 - 943). The new legislation takes effect on August 9, 2024. MMA Legal Services has issued guidance for members summarizing the new requirements and addressing frequently asked questions.
To read the latest guidance, click here (login required)
Friday, March 15, 2024
MMA Legal Services has recently issued two new supplements to the 2016 revised edition of its Guide to Municipal Liens. On March 14, 2024, Supplement No. 4 was issued to update the Manual's discussion of bankruptcy law and its impact on the municipal lien process (contained in chapter 6 of the Manual) and also updated forms in related appendices.
In addition, the Manual was updated in October, 2023 with Supplement No. 3, which revised chapter 3 of the Manual and related...