WATERBORO — Municipal leaders and others will have a chance to tell candidates for governor the needs of York County’s 29 cities and towns in forums set up for this month and next.

The 12 Town Group, made up of mostly rural towns plus the City of Sanford, is hosting an evening with Democratic candidate Mike Michaud at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 19 at Massabesic High School Auditorium, on West Road.

Independent Eliot Cutler is scheduled to address the group April 28, at the same time and location, said 12 Town Group Chairman John Sylvester. The group plans to invite incumbent Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who is running for re-election, for a similar evening.

The event is open to the public and those involved in municipal government.

“Recalling the hard-fought fight on revenue sharing, our hope is that many who work for local government will attend,” said Sylvester in a memo to the municipalities, urging attendance from each of the 29 York County cities and towns.

Municipal government is struggling, he said. Alfred, where Sylvester is a selectman, received $197,000 in revenue sharing funds in 2007 ”“ its portion of the 5 percent of taxes the municipalities are supposed to receive in their arrangement with the state ”“ and will receive $60,000 in the next fiscal year, provided the Legislature’s bid to retain $40 million in revenue sharing that was proposed to be cut remains intact.

Even with the retention, that’s a substantial decrease from 2007, Sylvester said. He said the state picks up the tab for 38 percent of the cost of education in Regional School Unit 57, of which Alfred is a member, when it is supposed be 55 percent, although the state has never reached the 55 percent threshold.

Revenue sharing cuts began with the Baldacci administration and have continued under LePage, who made a failed bid to temporarily halt revenue sharing altogether one year ago.

Waterboro Selectwoman TammyJo Girard announced meetings with Michaud and Cutler and the yet-to-be scheduled session with LePage during the televised selectmen’s meeting Tuesday. She urged residents ”“ both those involved in municipal government and those who are not ”“ to turn out.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.