AUGUSTA, Maine — On Nov. 6, Maine voters will again be asked to take tax and social services policy into their own hands via the citizen initiative process.
Question 1 on the general election ballot reads:
“Do you want to create the Universal Home Care Program to provide home-based assistance to people with disabilities and senior citizens, regardless of income, funded by a new 3.8% tax on individuals and families with Maine wage and adjusted gross income above the amount subject to Social Security taxes, which is $128,400 in 2018?”
The effort aims to solve a long-term, growing problem in Maine’s home health care system, where aides who are now making low wages and are often supported by public funds will be in much greater demand to provide the care that allows elderly and disabled Mainers to continue living at home as the nation’s oldest state ages further.
But the tax and regulatory regime in Question 1 has turned many off and is animating resistance to the law. Those would be the likely culprits if it goes down in November. Here’s what you need to know about it before then.
