[Local-Maine-Schools] The new draft bill is out -- you'll die, but not laughing....

[Dick Atlee]

The new draft version of the consolidation legislation is now out --

http://www.maine.gov/legis/ofpr/AFA_School_Consolidation_Draft_5-30-07_5PM.pdf

all 60 pages of it.

I haven't had a chance to read it yet, having just got it.  But to give 
you a taste of what we're in for if we don't immediately lean on our 
legislators, here's a list (from the interesting summary on pp 59-60) of 
what happens to any community that thinks it is doing well and declines 
to consolidate with other "partners".

[NOTE: This is in ADDITION to a guaranteed $36.5 MILLION CUT in General 
Purpose Aid funding next year.  It'll be interesting to see how the 
state gets to 55% funding with this approach.]

"Units that vote against reorganization will face additional financial 
impact in the form of penalties, starting on July 1, 2009.  Penalties 
for units that don't form appropriate regional units by the beginning of 
FY 2010 include:

1. Loss of minimum subsidy (including the 5% minimum and the special
    education minimum);
2. Loss of all funds for system administration;
3. A 5% increase in the mill rate required to be raised by that unit;
4. Less favorable consideration in approval and funding for school
    construction; and
5. Loss of eligibility for isolated school adjustments and transition
    adjustments."