122nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1397 LR 1197(02)
An Act Regarding the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Minority Report
   
             
Fiscal Note
Current Cost - State Mandate
Projections Projections
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Appropriations/Allocations
Other Special Revenue Funds $72,000 $0 $0 $0
State Mandate
New or Expanded Activity Unit Affected Costs
Requiring the Town of Ogunquit and the Town of Wells to enter into mediation and, subsequently, binding arbitration if the two parties fail to come to an agreement on the cost-sharing issues of the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District is a mandate.  The cost of this requirement is estimated to be approximately $80,000.  Municipality $80,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill establishes the Wells-Ogunquit CSD State Mandate account as a dedicated account in the Miscellaneous Acts and Resolves program within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to receive funds for the purpose of paying 90%, estimated to be approximately $72,000, of the total cost for a knowledgeable 3rd party with education policy expertise as well as for the mediation, arbitration and legal services required to resolve the cost-sharing issues of the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District.  In a letter to the Joint Standing Committee on Educational and Cultural Affairs dated May 11, 2005, the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Ogunquit indicated that the Town would reimburse the State of Maine for any and all costs associated with the mediation and arbitration provisions of this legislation.  If funds are not received from the Town of Ogunquit and General Fund appropriations or other funds are not provided sufficient to pay for at least 90% of the actual costs of this legislation, the Town of Ogunquit and the Town of Wells may not be required to implement this measure.
Additional costs to the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to administer and distribute funds in the Wells-Ogunquit CSD State Mandate account can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.