It should come as no surprise to Ogunquit residents that the Legislature has been unmoved by complaints of unfairness in educational funding.

The Town of Ogunquit made a strong case that it pays a heavy share of the costs of the Wells-Ogunquit School District. Yet it failed to persuade legislators that it should have the option of withdrawing from the district. A bill to allow withdrawal received a negative recommendation last week from the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee.

There are good reasons why Ogunquit and Wells should continue to share a school district, but the underlying money issues are a legitimate sore spot ”“ and a reminder that state decisions often do not reflect the interests of local taxpayers.

According to Rep. Peter Bowman, D-Kittery, who introduced the legislation, Ogunquit’s costs amount to nearly $80,000 per pupil. With only about 50 students enrolled, Ogunquit contributes about $4 million to the district’s annual budget ”“ about 25 percent.

It might seem disproportionate, but the state system relies heavily on local property taxes to allocate education expenses. Ogunquit’s commercial and residential property comprise a significant part of the tax base for the Wells-Ogunquit District. An appropriate balance between enrollment and property values can be difficult to achieve, and arguments over fairness arise frequently within school districts, including nearby Kennebunk and Kennebunkport.

In the 30 years since Ogunquit separated from Wells, the cost of education has been a continuing controversy and it is likely to continue. Despite the apparent unfairness, dissolution would leave Wells without the resources on which the system depends, and it would run counter to the statewide plan of consolidation that is intended to reduce education costs.

Inequities could be eased if the state were willing to finance a larger share of education costs, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards. In 2005, Maine voters approved legislation requiring the state to pay 55 percent of local education costs, but that goal has never been met. State aid to education is expected to amount to less than 50 percent this year, with little of it destined to reach Wells-Ogunquit.

Disagreements over costs are felt especially keenly this year, but work on the state budget is winding up with some good news. Thanks to increased tax revenue and federal aid, $26 million was restored to state aid to education, reducing the cutback for the coming year to $47 million.

This year’s disappointments will be felt strongly by taxpayers and schools alike as school budgets take shape. The bottom line is that education remains a vital investment for the state, though largely financed by local taxpayers.

— Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Nick Cowenhoven at nickc@journaltribune.com.