Staff Writer

 Dayton selectmen say they are unhappy with the proposed school budget and continue to consider withdrawing from Regional School Unit 23.

Selectmen last week hosted an informational meeting on the proposed budget for RSU 23, which encompasses Dayton, Saco and Old Orchard Beach. Selectman Mike Polakewich said fellow board members and many residents voiced support for withdrawing from the school unit.

Selectmen earlier this year asked Rep. Wayne Parry, whose district includes Dayton, to submit LD 803, a bill that would allow the town to opt out of the school district. The Saco City Council unanimously voted to ask the city be added to the bill.

However, the Joint Standing Committee on Educational and Cultural Affairs rejected the bill following testimony from Dayton and Saco officials that they joined the school unit only because of threats of penalties and loss of state subsidy.

“We went down the yellow brick road and it’s just not working for us,” Polakewich said. “The RSU system is a failed experiment.”

Polakewich said selectmen feel they have several options for withdrawing from the RSU. If Saco also withdraws, Saco and Dayton could potentially reform a district that existed for many years before regionalization, he said.

 Polakewich said preliminary discussions also have been held about sending middle school students to Thornton Academy Middle School.

Additionally, Dayton officials could talk to Arundel officials if that town decides to withdraw from Regional School Unit 21 formed with Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, Polakewich said.

Superintendent Mike Lafortune said there have been discussions “for quite a while” about Dayton withdrawing from the regional school unit. He said the law allows for withdrawal after the district’s third year. This is the second year since the district’s formation.

“I really think whoever is behind the drive to drop the RSU has a responsibility to show where they’re moving to and what the cost would be,” he said. 

Polakewich said  he and other selectmen’s concerns center on a cost-sharing formula developed when the district was created. He said it is unfair and places too much burden on Dayton taxpayers.

Polakewich said the cost sharing formula is structured “so the less students you have in school, the more you pay.”

The RSU school board voted unanimously last August to review the cost-sharing formula. Lafortune said school officials originally thought that could be done this spring, but it was pushed back to summer because a vote on any changes will be needed in fall.

Lafortune said any changes to the cost-sharing formula would be implemented in the third year of the regional school unit.

Skip Cushman, who represents Dayton on the school board, said a review of the cost-sharing formula is “past due” and the current formula is unfair to Dayton. Dayton makes up just over 7 percent of the RSU, but pays 24.4 percent of the additional local allocation, he said.

“I think that the whole thing comes down to cost sharing. The cost sharing formula needs to be adjusted,” he said. “I think that is the major driving force at this stage.”

Many residents are concerned about the impact the proposed budget would have on Dayton’s tax rate, Polakewich said.

The proposed $43.7 million school budget, if approved by voters without changes, would require Dayton raise an additional $104,756 from the current year, according to school officials. Dayton Treasurer Angela Cushman said estimates show education costs could increase the mil rate 65 cents.

She said town officials estimate the town’s mil rate will increase by a total of at least $1.50 because the town no longer has surplus funds to offset tax increases.

The mil rate last year increased from $14.55 to $16.05 because of both education and town expenses, she said.

Dayton is a small residential town without a large industrial tax bases, Polakewich said. Commercial taxes come from a Florida Power and Light dam, Dayton Sand and Gravel and a few “mom and pop” businesses, he said.

Polakewich said he and other selectmen are concerned that elderly residents on fixed incomes can’t afford tax increases. They worry senior citizens may stop taking needed medication if they have to stretch their incomes to pay more taxes, he said.

“We try to do everything we possibly can to keep taxes down,” Polakewich said.

Polakewich said selectmen also are concerned about the level of communication between town and school officials. He said selectmen depend entirely on Skip Cushman to keep them updated on the schools and budget.

“Information from the RSU is not very forthcoming,” he said.

Skip Cushman said there is no communication between the RSU and town.

“The superintendent has never been willing to come to a selectmen’s meeting without being asked to come,” he said. “There has to be some additional communication with all the communities, not just Dayton.”

Lafortune said he attended two recent Dayton selectmen meetings.

“I think there has been communication. It can always be improved, obviously. We try to answer questions when they come to us,” he said.