There will be no Nov. 6 ballot referendum regarding the Regional School Unit 1 cost-sharing formula, but a special town meeting on the issue is possible next spring, the chairman of the school board said this morning.

A committee charged with recommending a new funding plan met Tuesday night at the RSU 1 superintendent’s office. The committee, comprised of two members of each of the five unit municipalties, has not been able yet to formulate a consensus plan.

“Ultimately, the board will make a decision when it comes time for the budget,” chairman Tim Harkins said. “The committee is committed to this project. They understand the urgency of the board. They want to make a recommendation prior to budget time.”

During Monday night’s school board meeting in Woolwich, board members had expressed hope that the committee would vote to continue with the status quo LD 910 costsharing plan until a new formula is devised. That didn’t happen Tuesday night.

As matters stand, some in Arrowsic, Bath and Phippsburg believe those towns have been contributing more to the schools since the board changed the formula last spring. To complicate matters, town officials in West Bath contend that the cost-sharing plan in place prior to the change cost that town a significant amount of money.

Committee members Paul Gamache of Phippsburg and Allison Hepler of Woolwich advised the school board Monday night that a consensus had not been reached.

Hepler said that the only agreements reached by the cost-sharing committee included pupil count and state valuation. Town population figures remain a sticking point.

“They’re getting hung up on the population and census,” Harkins said.

RSU 1 begins budget deliberations in late December. The school board begins public presentations in March or April, followed by a twopart vote. The first vote is held during a town meeting-style meeting at Bath Middle School, followed by a budget referendum vote in June.

lgrard@timesrecord.com