Regional School Unit 1 is “behind the 8-ball” regarding a new cost-sharing formula for its five-member towns, the chairman of the board of directors said on Monday night.

Tim Harkins was referring to a cost-sharing formula that has been the subject of debate among the towns for some time.

RSU 1 devised a one-third, one-third, one-third plan based on each town’s population, students and valuation in 2007, just prior to the statemandated consolidation of schools. Shortly thereafter, RSU 1 changed the formula to suit some of its towns. But last April, the school unit reverted back to the onethird, or LD 910 method.

Now, Bath and Phippsburg are getting hit with higher payments into the school system.

Harkins said that, at this point, communities don’t feel they have enough information to make a new charge.

“It’s in the hands of attorneys to work on this,” Harkins said. “At the same time, the cost-sharing group has been working together. But we’re behind the 8-ball for a November referendum vote.”

Board member Alan Walton asked if a proposal by October would be soon enough to get it on the ballot, and Harkins answered, “it would be close. We have to meet religiously every other week.”

Jon Davis, town administrator in West Bath, recalled the time when the school board discarded the LD 910 method.

“Woolwich picked up on it, then more of the towns did the same,” Davis said. “West Bath was overcharged $1.9 million over the last four years.”

The unrest continues.

“Now other towns are unhappy,” Davis said. “That’s kind of where it’s at. We’re having meetings with the school board to see where we go from here.”