Recommendations of the Eastern Maine Fair Economy Commission

As is common at events of this nature, our participants were long on observations, opinions, and complaints, but much shorter on solutions. Nevertheless, participants suggested several measures that could make it easier for locally owned businesses to thrive and for the citizens of local communities to have a greater say in determining their economic future. Based on the sentiments expressed to us at the forums, the Commission considers these steps to be the basic building blocks for a more fair and balanced approach to our changing local economy.

Some of our specific recommendations require legislative action at the state level and some at the local level. Where possible, we have tried to identify specific existing meassure to encourage this..

Goal #1 - State and local governments should act in concert to require that the economic, social, and environmental impacts of large-scale retail store developments are considered in the municipal planning and decision making process.

 Currently even concrete issues like the balance between the cost of increased fire and police services necessitated by the construction of a large-scale retail store and the amount of tax revenue the store will generate for the town are generally off the table when municipal governments are making decisions about whether or not to issue permits to build a big new store.

A. The Commission encourages the Maine Legislature to pass the “Informed Growth Act” sponsored by Rep. Chris Barstow (D-Gorham). This legislation would trigger an independent comprehensive review of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of any proposed large-scale retail development 75,000 square feet or greater, to be paid for by the developer.

B. The Commission encourages municipal governments to pass local ordinances consistent with that legislation that would require economic, social, and environmental impact studies for new retail development over 75,000 square feet at the expense of the developer.

C. The Commission encourages municipal governments to emphasize the health of the local economy and the cost of expanded services in addition to conservation goals and the preservation of community character when revising municipal comprehensive plans and ordinances.

Goal #2 - State and local governments should explore mechanisms to regionalize the planning process.

 Large-scale retail developments are intended to serve a population well beyond the borders of the particular municipality in which the development is located. Conversely, the economic impact of the development affects much more than the host community. Proposed large-scale retail development in a particular area can cause competition between communities trying to get whatever jobs, tax revenue, and secondary spending that might result from the development and hence a .race to the bottom. in offering incentives that only reduce the anticipated benefit.

A . The Commission encourages the Maine Legislature to develop legislation requiring regional communication and cooperation between communities in the planning process.

B. The Commission encourages local communities to consider regional planning districts to foster regional communication and cooperation and to some extent counter the bargaining power of large commercial interests.

Goal #3 - Governmental entities, local groups and businesses, and private citizens should encourage the retention and development of local business and the retention and development of alternative marketing strategies.

State and local government can encourage existing and potential local businesses, which in turn foster the social cohesiveness of the community and the unique local character of the community. Innovative strategies can be explored to foster the co-existence of large scale retail stores, small and local businesses, and downtown retail areas. However, although governmental entities can help with this goal, the efforts of local groups, local businesses, and citizens are of crucial importance in its accomplishment because the energy and imagination needed to actually develop businesses, co-ops, farmers’ markets, and other local marketplaces, etc., can only come from those sources. Consumer education about the hidden costs and hidden impacts of large-scale retail stores is integral to this process.

A. The Commission encourages state government to adopt a comprehensive procurement policy giving preference to goods and services produced in Maine. In order to avoid potential legal challenges, the legislature could consider taking into account in the procurement process the distance a product has traveled and justify it (appropriately) as part of the state.s climate change plan.

B . The Commission likewise encourages municipal governments to implement a system of local purchasing preferences in procurement.

C. The Commission encourages local governments to work with local businesses and community groups to launch .Buy Local. campaigns and to explore other ways to support consumer education and local agriculture and manufacturing.

Goal #4 - State government should consider legislation to require large-scale retail enterprises to pay the true costs of operating in Maine.

 As we heard at our forums and read in some of the research material, there are clearly significant problems with employment practices in the large-scale retail industry. In addition to coercive and sometimes illegal policies fostered by the emphasis on low prices, large-scale retailers often rely on governmental rather than commercial funding for employee benefits.

A. The Commission encourages the state government to develop and implement a plan to move toward universal, single payer healthcare.

B. The Commission encourages the Maine Legislature to pass legislation requiring employers to pay a living wage indexed to the cost of food, housing, gasoline, and heating oil in a given labor market area

Read the Full Commission Report (PDF Format, 1.2 Mb)