An Act To Clarify and Improve the Laws Governing the Formation of Regional School Units
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2280
House Amendment HA_C_H928 (House)

HOUSE AMENDMENT ,,0, to H.P. 1645, L.D. 2280, Bill, "An Act To Clarify 
and Improve the Laws Governing the Formation of Regional School Units" 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 25 the following: 
'Sec. 26. Maximum disparity among mill rates. Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law to the contrary, except as otherwise provided in this section a 
municipality may not pay as part of its required contribution to the total cost of education 
as described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15688 more than twice the 
mill rate of any other municipality within that same regional school unit, school 
administrative district or other school administrative unit in which the unit board of 
directors governs kindergarten to grade 12 education shared by mUltiple municipalities. 
1. 
If, after the essential programs and services total cost of education has been 
determined by the Department of Education, a municipality is determined to have to pay 
as part of its required contribution to the total cost of education as described in the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15688 more than twice the mill rate of any 
municipality within that same school administrative unit subject to this section, the 
department shall increase the lower mill rate and decrease the higher mill rate until the 
disparity falls within the maximum 2: 1 ratio. 
2. 
A municipality within a school administrative unit subject to this section is 
entitled to a transition adjustment determined by the Department of Education if the 
municipality has, by operation of subsection 1, an adverse fiscal impact resulting in: 
A. A mill rate increase for the required contribution to the total cost of education as 
described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15688 at or in excess of 
0.5 mills; and 
B. A resulting local contribution increase greater than 5%. 
This section does not apply to a school administrative unit if each member 
municipality of the unit affirmatively votes to accept a disparity among mill rates that 
exceeds the maximum 2: 1 ratio set forth in this section. 
No later than January 31, 2009, the Commissioner of Education shall submit to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and 
cultural affairs proposed legislation necessary to implement this section. 
Following 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
~: 
HOUSE AMENDMENT t" to H.P. 1645, L.D. 2280 
receipt and review of the proposed legislation, the joint standing committee may submit 
legislation to the First Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment requires that a municipality that is part of a school administrative 
unit in which the unit board of directors governs kindergarten to grade 12 education that 
is shared by multiple municipalities may not pay as part of its required contribution to the 
total cost of education more than twice the mill rate of any other municipality within that 
same school administrative unit. This amendment also allows a transition adjustment for 
a municipality adversely affected to be determined by the Department of Education. The 
amendment also directs the Commissioner of Education to submit to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs 
proposed legislation necessary to implement this requirement. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
SPONSORED BY, ~t.J. ~:J 
(Representative BABBIDG 
{j 
TOWN: Kennebunk 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 04/03/08 frac-... 
LD 2280 
LR 3490(08) 
An Act To Clarify and Improve the Laws Governing the Formation of Regional School Units 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for House Amendment 'V" 
Sponsor: Rep. Babbidge of Kennebunk 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
No State fiscal impact 
This amendment has no fiscal impact to the state. It provides that certain municipalities may not pay as part of their 
required contribution more than twice the mill rate of any other municipality within that same school administrative 
unit. This amendment also provides for a transition adjustment for those municipalities that may be adversely 
impacted by this provision. 
As amended, this bill will reduce the required contribution for funding K-12 public education for certain 
municipalities within a school administrative unit and increase the required contribution for other municipalities 
within the same school administrative unit. The amount can not be determined at this time. 
LR3490(08) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1