WOOLWICH

The town has compromised as much as it intends to regarding the schools’ cost-sharing formula, selectmen indicated Monday.

Board of Selectmen Chairman David King said town officials support a Regional School Unit 1 formula for fiscal year 2014 based on equal thirds: student population, state valuation and municipal population.

Only by 2015 would Woolwich support cost-sharing based strictly on cost per pupil, King said.

RSU 1 had hoped to have a new allotment formula on the Nov. 6 ballot but couldn’t find agreement within its communities.

His information, King said, is that West Bath has not decided on a formula while Phippsburg and Bath favor going with the per-student model immediately.

“Between Woolwich and West Bath, that compromise is already going to cost us half a million dollars,” King said. “It’s 2014 that’s the sticking point.”

Arrowsic also is in RSU 1.

King and Allison Hepler, who both serve on the town’s cost-sharing committee, predicted a divided vote among the five towns. They agreed that Woolwich already has compromised.

Earlier Monday night, the chairman of the Building Committee told selectmen that 66 percent of the 303 people who participated in a survey favor an enlarged and renovated municipal building. Dana Lindsey added that 29 percent oppose either of the two plans, and 5 percent are unsure.

Of the 66 percent in favor, 24 per- cent like the less expensive plan while 76 percent favor a $1 million project that would accommodate a meeting space for up to 250 people, Lindsey said.

When the price comparison was presented in terms of tax rate rather than dollars, it swung people to the larger project, Lindsey said.

“People realize you get a bigger bang for your buck with Plan A rather than Plan B,” he said.

The committee will conduct a public hearing on Dec. 5. In January, Lindsey said, the committee will weigh the survey with sentiments expressed at the public hearing, and formulate a recommendation to selectmen.

The hope is for residents to vote on a recommendation during town meeting in May.

Selectman Jason Shaw suggested the town mail out notices on the public hearing.

“This is the largest financial project I’ve ever seen the town consider,” Shaw said. “This is a very sizable project and it would make me feel better.”

Hepler concurred. “Overkill is better than underkill,” she said.

King said one resident commented on the questionnaire that the town doesn’t need a large gathering space since use of Woolwich Central School is free.

“It’s free space by RSU 1, but it’s my opinion that could change somewhere down the road,” King said.

lgrard@timesrecord.com