Richard De Vries, Westport Island representative to the Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12 board, told selectmen May 7 about an email he sent residents.

De Vries's May 3 email cautioned that the legislature’s failure to pass a school subsidy bill could require the town to borrow money to pay monthly expenses. The town would need to borrow about $900,000 per month until the legislature returned and approved LD 1869 and it was signed into law by the governor, the email states.

LD 1869, “An Act To Establish the Total Cost of Education and the State and Local Contributions to Education for Fiscal Year 2018-19,” involves more than $1 billion in subsidies for school districts.

De Vries further explained, “The cost for interest for such borrowing is not included in the (school district's) budget for next year and would need to be covered in the budget for 2019-2020.”

The $1 billion in general purpose aid would have started flowing to districts in July. According to the Maine School Management Association, the Department of Education has determined there is an administrative solution which would involve the executive branch releasing the funds.  However, there is concern this would establish a precedent that would circumvent the legislature.

In other business, selectmen approved a June 12 referendum for a $375,000 bond for “minor capital improvements” to SVRSU 12 schools. The bond would be to repair and replace roofs on Palermo Consolidated school and the Somerville, Whitefield and Windsor elementary schools.

A public hearing is set for 6 p.m. May 17 at Chelsea Elementary School, 566 Togus Road, on the school budget referendum and bond referendum.

Selectmen signed the assessors’ return. The town was assessed $272,473 in taxes to Lincoln County. Last year, it was $283,427.06.

In May, June and July, a certified Maine assessor and the Westport Island board of assessors will inspect properties with building permits issued between April 2017 and April 2018. In addition, inspections will be made for any percentage of completion on permits issued prior to April 2017.