(Second article in the Q&A Charter Series)
- In 1969 Maine Citizens adopted an amendment to the Maine Constitution that provided municipal “home rule”.
- Home rule is very important for municipalities because it affords the citizens of a municipality the opportunity to adopt a municipal charter rather than depend upon the state legislature for their governing authority.
- Under home rule it is the right of a town or city to enact laws that are municipal in nature and do not run counter to state law.
- Home rule is a counter movement to government centralization where the state or federal government defines what municipal government can do.
- 82% of the Maine municipalities (51) with more than 5,000 population have municipal charters.
- 18% of the Maine municipalities (11) with more than 5,000 population do not have municipal charters. New Gloucester has a population of 5,679 and does not have a municipal charter.
Maine Cities by Population Rank | City | Population | Charter Municipalities |
1 | Portland | 66,715 | Yes |
2 | Lewiston | 36,211 | Yes |
3 | Bangor | 32,237 | Yes |
4 | South Portland | 25,431 | Yes |
5 | Auburn | 22,941 | Yes |
6 | Biddeford | 21,413 | Yes |
7 | Sanford | 20,920 | Yes |
8 | Brunswick | 20,523 | Yes |
9 | Scarborough | 19,620 | Yes |
10 | Saco | 19,127 | Yes |
11 | Augusta | 18,626 | Yes |
12 | Westbrook | 18,156 | Yes |
13 | Windham | 17,732 | Yes |
14 | Gorham | 17,147 | Yes |
15 | Waterville | 16,374 | Yes |
16 | York | 12,872 | Yes |
17 | Falmouth | 11,868 | Yes |
18 | Kennebunk | 11,223 | Yes |
19 | Orono | 10,914 | Yes |
20 | Standish | 10,091 | Yes |
21 | Wells | 10,048 | no |
22 | Kittery | 9,649 | Yes |
23 | Presque Isle | 9,246 | Yes |
24 | Cape Elizabeth | 9,235 | Yes |
25 | Brewer | 9,167 | Yes |
26 | Lisbon | 8,872 | Yes |
27 | Old Orchard Beach | 8,745 | Yes |
28 | Topsham | 8,737 | no |
29 | Yarmouth | 8,494 | Yes |
30 | Skowhegan | 8,344 | no |
31 | Bath | 8,314 | Yes |
32 | Freeport | 8,296 | Yes |
33 | Buxton | 8,158 | Yes |
34 | Gray | 8,014 | Yes |
35 | Ellsworth | 7,916 | Yes |
36 | Caribou | 7,827 | Yes |
37 | Waterboro | 7,747 | Yes |
38 | Cumberland | 7,695 | Yes |
39 | Farmington | 7,623 | Yes |
40 | Winslow | 7,608 | Yes |
41 | Old Town | 7,594 | Yes |
42 | Berwick | 7,538 | no |
43 | South Berwick | 7,363 | Yes |
44 | Hampden | 7,314 | no |
45 | Rockland | 7,204 | no |
46 | Belfast | 6,680 | Yes |
47 | Fairfield | 6,612 | Yes |
48 | Eliot | 6,380 | no |
49 | Oakland | 6,218 | Yes |
50 | Lebanon | 6,168 | no |
51 | Winthrop | 6,006 | Yes |
52 | Houlton | 5,911 | Yes |
53 | Hermon | 5,789 | Yes |
54 | Turner | 5,747 | no |
55 | Rumford | 5,730 | Yes |
56 | New Gloucester | 5,679 | no |
57 | Gardiner | 5,672 | Yes |
58 | Poland | 5,522 | Yes |
59 | Bar Harbor | 5,356 | Yes |
60 | Bridgton | 5,346 | no |
61 | Paris | 5,148 | no |
62 | Sabbatus | 5,009 | Yes |
According to a 2016 textbook publication of the Maine Municipal Association, “Home rule has rekindled civic pride, citizen interest and participation in local affairs.”
Written by: John Salisbury, New Gloucester resident and former executive director of the Maine Municipal Association. Edited by NGX