On March 19, residents of RSU 1 will be asked to vote to change the cost-sharing formula that determines the assessment of each member town. The RSU 1 website provides details of the proposed changes. The Woolwich Board of Selectmen offers some additional background on the proposed change, which would, if adopted, cost Woolwich taxpayers about $258,000 over this year’s assessment.

When RSU 1 adopted the correct cost-sharing formula under LD 910 last April, it also created a “Cost Sharing Committee” of elected representatives from each town to develop recommendations for an “equitable cost-sharing formula.”


The committee developed a straightforward formula based on an equal cost per student, and each town credited with its state subsidy (if any). The consensus of the committee was that this was fair, and unanimously agreed it should be applied beginning with 2014-15 budget. 

The committee was not, however, unanimous on applying the new formula to the upcoming 2013-14 budget. Nevertheless, the RSU Board unanimously approved using this formula beginning with the upcoming budget, and under LD 910, the new formula needs to be ratified by the residents of RSU 1.

The board of selectmen, three of whom were involved in the Cost Sharing Committee, did not support using this formula for 2013-14 but was unanimous in its support for applying it in 2014-15. The board of selectmen wants Woolwich residents to understand that, based on this year’s budget numbers, Woolwich will see a significant increase over the current budget if this new formula is adopted.

Please vote on March 19. Polling will be at the school from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.