In a presentation to the RSU 12 Board of Directors Dec. 8, Finance Committee Chair Jerry Nault said Wiscasset’s potential withdrawal from the regional school unit would have a minimal impact on cost allocation.
According to a memo to the Board, Wiscasset’s withdrawal could translate into an even lesser annual assessment for the remaining seven towns.
“There are is no negative effect of a town the size of Wiscasset leaving,” Nault said.
According to the memo, in a seven town RSU, Alna would contribute $785,534 after five years; $21,329 less than if Wiscasset remained. Westport Island would contribute $19,234 less; Whitefield, $71,788 less. Among the Lincoln County towns, only Somerville would be required to contribute a greater amount. In a seven-town unit, Somerville would pay $22,891 more.
In November, the RSU 12 Board postponed voting on a new cost allocation methodology in order to determine the effect of a Wiscasset withdrawal from the school unit. On Dec. 8, the Board ultimately voted 15-2 to send the revised cost allocation methodology to a public hearing for feedback.
In the revised cost allocation plan, each town will contribute its relative minimum amount, the state-assessed sum that each town must pay to receive education subsidies. Remaining RSU costs will be divided among each town by a formula based evenly on student count and town population.
The plan includes a five percent safety net that will be implemented to help towns whose contribution to the RSU rises. Those towns whose savings exceed five percent under the new cost-sharing plan must use extra savings to help towns whose obligation rises more than five percent. The safety net would be gradually eased out over four to six years.
The current formula is based primarily on each town’s “historic cost,” the amount of a town’s education expenses historically subsidized by the state.
The Board must have two public hearings before each town votes on the final cost allocation plan. Each member of the RSU must vote on the formula through a referendum or a town meeting by the end of March 2012 in order for the new formula to take effect before fiscal year 2013.
In a full, eight town RSU, all Lincoln County towns, except for Somerville, would still be required to contribute less under the new formula.
Though the Board requested information on the potential impact of Wiscasset’s withdrawal, Board Chairman Hilary Holm stressed that the RSU currently remains an eight-town school unit.
“We are eight towns,” Holm said.
