GORHAM – With two obsolete schools on its hands and cramped public safety quarters, the Gorham Town Council will begin figuring out the costs for upgrades and possible disposition of town buildings.

Public safety upgrades could cost taxpayers millions.

The panel would be looking at a “long-range” solution, Matt Robinson, chairman of the Town Council, said this week. The council would likely meet in a workshop in May or June to discuss space shortages and vacancies.

When school ends in June, Sebago Educational Alliance, which serves students with special needs, will relocate to Buxton from Gorham’s former Little Falls School on Acorn Street. In September, the new Great Falls Elementary School will open, leaving the White Rock School empty.

“It’s rare to get two buildings open in the same year,” Robinson said. “Two big buildings.”

The former Little Falls School could provide a solution to cramped space at the Gorham Public Safety Building, 270 Main St., where fire and police are located. Both departments are squeezed.

“We definitely need more space,” Police Chief Ron Shepard said this week.

Gorham police relocated in 1974 from its former headquarters in a fire barn on South Street, which was razed. Then, the police department had five members. Now, there are 23 officers and two office staff.

Deputy Fire Chief Ken Fickett said Wednesday some equipment, including hazardous material gear, is stored outside and the department has some offices in portable buildings. A fire/police van, an inspector’s car and a pickup truck sit outside. One fire engine had to be relocated to another station to make way for a new squad truck.

The department needs at least two more bays at Central Station to house current equipment.

“We’re cramped for room,” Fickett said.

A couple of options to address the public safety space crunch are expected to be on the council’s table. In one option, the Little Falls School could be converted either to a police station or a fire barn.

Town Councilor Noah Miner, chairman of the council’s Capital Improvements Committee, citing preliminary committee figures, said Wednesday renovation of the Little Falls School into a fire station could cost $6.5 million.

If a Little Falls Fire Station project doesn’t materialize, the town could construct up to four additional bays at the Central Fire Station, costing $4.2 million.

Robinson said relocating police to new quarters in the Little Falls School would likely be less expense.

Or, if the Little Falls School were converted into a fire station, Gorham could move some fire and rescue trucks from its Central Station on Main Street. Under that scenario, Gorham police could inherit more space at the present Public Safety Building.

A Little Falls Fire Station option would allow Gorham to close its existing White Rock Fire Station.

Gorham and Windham fire departments now share a station in South Windham on Route 202 across the Presumpscot River from Gorham’s Little Falls area. If a future joint deal worked out between the two towns, the South Windham Fire Station could be closed.

Miner said the intent is to have Windham on board to share costs.

“There’s a lot of wild cards,” Miner said.

Windham Fire Chief Charles Hammond said Wednesday the two towns have had discussions about sharing a station in Little Falls. Hammond said its South Windham location has issues with inadequate parking and a lack of sufficient room for meetings and training.

A sewer pumping station on the property further impacts the site.

“It’s crowded there,” Hammond said.

Miner said the town’s public safety needs are rapidly approaching and he pointed to the referendum for a $3 million artificial turf project going to voters in June.

“You’re going to raise taxes with both of these improvements,” Miner said.

“We owe it to Gorham taxpayers to find out what’s the best use for the least amount of money,” said Brenda Caldwell, vice chairwoman of the Town Council.