Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed $20 million statewide cut to school subsidies could result in a $96,497 increase in the tax burden on Dresden residents, RSU 2 committee member Bill Matthews told selectman on Monday, May 15.

Matthews said LePage’s proposed budget would shift responsibility for school administration back to the school district. RSU 2 now shares a superintendent and support personnel among six towns and twelve schools.

The state’s budget is still being reviewed by the appropriations and education committees. The RSU’s $2.67 million budget will be going to a six-town vote at Monmouth Academy on Tuesday, May 30. “We will have to vote before the government’s budget is approved,” said Matthews.

Selectman Dale Hinote said any increase will be felt most by the town’s elderly and poor taxpayers. Matthews said the per pupil cost to the town is amplified by declining student enrollments and Dresden’s relatively high state property valuation.

Local ratification of the budget will take place at the polls Tuesday, June 13.

In other business, selectmen agreed to meet Monday, May 22 with representatives of the Gardiner and Wiscasset ambulance services to sort out contract proposals.

Selectmen agreed to support an undesignated fund policy with the exact percentage of funds to be retained in surplus to be determined when the final municipal budget is completed.

Selectman Allan Moeller Sr. said he is waiting for bids on construction of a new culvert on Bog Road. The town is in line for an $83,000 Department of Environment Protection grant to pay most of the construction costs.

Town Clerk Pat Theriault reported that absentee ballots for the Tuesday, June 13 election of town officials are available at the town office.