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V O L . X X I N O. X X V I I N OV E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 5 20 Although Maine has two programs to encourage business investment in new equipment — the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement and Business Equipment Tax Exemption — Block pointed out that pre-1996 equipment is still taxed, adding to the property tax burden at older mills. Potential action steps identified by audience members during the summit's "next steps" discussion include: Working with lawmakers and the governor's office to expand the BETR and BETE programs to include older equipment. Shifting to an "income-based" approach for determining property taxes of large industrial companies like paper mills. Establishing a streamlined property tax appeal system in which abatement requests and appeals would be heard by a professional board instead of local citizens who might not have the tax expertise to fairly evaluate the merits of a paper mill or other large industrial taxpayer's abatement request. Although stakeholders' views were mixed on what comes next, it was abundantly clear by the summit's closing that doing nothing is not an option. Employment at Maine's paper mills fell from 12,087 in 2000 to 6,150 in 2014, according to Amanda Rector, the state's economist. Cassese and fellow summit facilitator Andrea Cianchette Maker, co-leader of Pierce Atwood's government relations practice group, noted that the board of the Maine Pulp & Paper Association would use findings from the summit to create and propose short- and long-term solutions. Cassese says: "I'd like to get a couple of quick wins in the short session of the 127th Legislature, and build some momentum with that. at's because we know some of the things we talked about today will be a long, involved process." George Gervais, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Develop- ment, says the report by Eric Kingsley, "Benchmarking Maine's Forest Industry," provides a "road map." "Maine needs to lower taxes, energy costs, and wood costs," Gervais says. "As an administration, we will continue pushing these initiatives which are absolutely critical to increasing Maine's overall competitiveness and ultimately help strengthen the pulp and paper industry for generations to come." James McCarthy, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at jmccarthy @ mainebiz.biz and @ JamesMainebiz » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E MEMBER FDIC Let's Make It Happen. Call Today: 1.888.725.2207 Isn't it your business? grow time to You have the strategy. NORWAY SAVINGS HAS YOUR BACK. OUR BUSINESS PRODUCTS • Commercial Lending • Online Banking Services • Checking & Savings Accounts • Money Market Accounts • Remote Deposit Capture • Cash Management Services • Health Savings Accounts Norway Savings Commercial Team Dana Tait, Melissa Babineau, Dan Walsh, Rick Flagg, and Rob Harville norwaysavingsbank.com Average annual employment in Maine, 2000–2014 S O U R C E : Maine Department of Labor, Center for Workforce Research and Information Forestry and logging Wood product manufacturing Paper manufacturing 0 3,000 6,000 9,000 12,000 15,000 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

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