Wiscasset residents Sharon Nichols and Doug Smith delivered a citizens’ petition to the town office Tuesday morning with 231 signatures.
The petition asks that $2 million be taken from the town’s reserve account and be transferred to the town’s account used for current budget items, allowing ample funds available to pay a school withdrawal fee.
Wiscasset voters will decide in the Nov. 5 election if they want to withdraw from the Sheepscott Valley Regional School Unit 12.
The petition asks that the money be appropriated to pay any expenses needed to accomplish withdrawal from the RSU, and if there is any balance remaining from the $2 million, after payment of all withdrawal expenses have been paid, it will be returned to the reserve count.
According to a recent presentation by H.M Payson, the town’s investment firm, there is $11.42 million in the reserve account.
The Maine Department of Education Commissioner Steven Bowen has approved a withdrawal plan for the town and included in that plan is that Wiscasset will need to pay a withdrawal fee of about $1.5 million to cover equipment, existing service contracts, and improvements that were made while the town was a member of RSU 12.
In addition, the town will be required to pay the summer salaries of the teachers prior to the beginning of the first school year that could cost up to $500,000.
The number of signatures required for the question to be put before the voters is 167. The signatures presented must be verified by the town clerk.
The sponsors of the citizens’ petition want to see the question on the ballot for the Nov. 5 election allowing the voters an opportunity to know how the town would pay for the withdrawal, should the vote be passed to withdraw.
Another option under consideration by selectmen would be to take out a bond and make the payments on the bond from the reserve account each year.
The RSU 12 was established in 2008 with eight towns: Alna, Chelsea, Whitefield, Windsor, Palermo, Westport Island, Somerville, and Wiscasset and four of those towns are now considering withdrawal from RSU 12: Windsor, Westport Island, Palermo, and Wiscasset.
The Wiscasset Selectmen are expected to discuss the November ballot at their next meeting Tuesday, Sept. 17. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8 to discuss the items on the November ballot.
