Everywhere I go, Mainers are talking to me about property taxes. I hear it from retirees who have lived in the same house for 40 years and now worry they can’t afford to stay. I hear it from young families struggling to buy their first home and are worried property taxes will keep home ownership out of reach — on top of the high costs of homes these days. I hear it from small brick-and-mortar business owners who are trying to keep the lights on. It’s not just a policy issue, it’s deeply personal for all of us. It’s about the ability to stay rooted in the place we call home.

That’s why I introduced legislation to create a bipartisan Property Tax Relief Task Force. I’ve spent a lot of time listening, and what I keep hearing is clear: People are tired of piecemeal fixes. They want us to stop chasing short-term patches and start building long-term solutions that actually work — and last.

The task force brings together voices from across Maine: lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, an economist, municipal leaders and housing experts. It’s designed to ask the hard questions such as why are certain communities (and certain people) feeling the squeeze more than others? And how do we fix this in a way that’s fair, sustainable and responsive to the real lives of Maine people? It will also look at what other states have done and how their solutions could be tailored to work here.

This isn’t about making tiny tweaks and calling it good. That approach has left us right where we started year after year. Instead, this task force is charged with taking a comprehensive look at the structure of our system. That means looking at how the state can step up more consistently to reduce the burden on local property owners. It means acknowledging that different communities have different needs — and that any solution must take those differences into account.

The task force will spend real time listening, analyzing and proposing changes that can stand the test of time. They’ll release an initial report in early 2026 and a final set of recommendations later that year. That timeline is a commitment to doing it right, not fast. Because when it comes to keeping people in their homes and helping towns thrive, we can’t afford to get it wrong.

Support has come in different forms. In Augusta, my colleagues and I took action to increase property tax relief. During the 131st Legislature, we expanded several targeted existing programs — including the Property Tax Fairness Credit, the Sales Tax Fairness Credit and the Property Tax Deferral Program — to help fill the gaps. This session, Rep. Flavia DeBrito sponsored a bill that I was proud to support to let more people know about programs like these for which they may be eligible. These are the kind of programs that can help Mainers save thousands and are important steps, but they’re not the finish line. If we want to deliver lasting, equitable property tax relief, we need a more thoughtful and comprehensive approach — one that doesn’t rely on quick fixes or Band-Aid solutions.

I know how deeply personal this issue is. I heard from a couple in their 70s selling the house they raised their kids in because the taxes have gotten too high. I met a teacher in Brunswick who can’t afford to pay property taxes in the district she works in. Rising property taxes are making once-affordable rural towns increasingly unaffordable. These aren’t outliers, it’s becoming the norm, and that’s not the Maine I believe in.

We need to build something better for Maine. That’s what this task force is all about: creating thoughtful, transparent work that is grounded in listening and lived experience. Because our communities deserve solutions that hold up for the long haul.

As always, my door is open. If you have thoughts, concerns or ideas, I want to hear them. This isn’t a conversation happening behind closed doors — it’s a bipartisan statewide effort, and it belongs to all of us.

Mattie Daughtry represents state Senate District 23, Brunswick, Chebeague Island, Freeport, Harpswell, Pownal and part of Yarmouth in the Maine Senate. She also serves as Maine’s Senate president. She can be reached at Mattie.Daughtry@legislature.maine.gov or 207-287-1515.