Within Gov. Paul LePage's budget, he has proposed eliminating the circuit breaker program for those under 65 years old.

If the governor’s package is accepted, low-income residents in Wiscasset could lose approximately $172,760, according to Wiscasset Town Manager Laurie Smith.

The state of Maine has funded the circuit breaker program in the past, which is a tax/rent refund program that lowers the property tax burden on low-income residents and the elderly, said Smith in a press release.

At the last Wiscasset Board of Selectmen meeting when this information was discussed, resident and budget committee member Norm Guidoboni said that this was only for people under 65 and that seniors would still be getting their rebates.

Last year, Maine awarded 318 refunds to Wiscasset residents totaling $184,147. That is an average of $579 per applicant.

Out of this amount, $168,742 went to 238 property taxpayers as a refund on the tax paid,  averaging $709 per taxpayer.

$22,405 went to refund 80 rent payers in Wiscasset which averages $280 per applicant.

Only 30 of the applicants were seniors, with rebates totaling  $11,387 (averaging $380 per applicant).