128th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1484 LR 446(05)
An Act Authorizing the Deorganization of the Town of Atkinson
Fiscal Note for Bill as Engrossed with:
C "A" (H-698)
S "A" (S-432)
Committee: State and Local Government
             
Fiscal Note
Contingent future biennium savings - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill will become effective only if approved by the voters of the Town of Atkinson at the next general election to be held in November.  If approved, the deorganization of the Town of Atkinson would take effect on July 1, 2019.
For purposes of this analysis, all other factors in the calculation of the total cost of K-12 public education and the state's contribution are assumed to be held constant.  Given this assumption, the deorganization of the Town of Atkinson will lower the total cost of K-12 public education beginning in fiscal year 2019-20 and result in savings to the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program within the Department of Education.  The amount of savings can not be determined at this time.  For comparison purposes, the preliminary total cost allocation for Atkinson for the 2018-2019 school year is $327,693 with the State contributing $172,000 of that total.  
The Division of State Schools - Education in the Unorganized Territories program in the Department of Education will incur future General Fund expenditures to provide services to the Unorganized Territories.  These expenditures would be ongoing and would be to provide schooling to students from Atkinson.  The cost can not be determined at this time, but is estimated to be approximately $327,693 annually.  The General Fund would be fully reimbursed for these costs by higher collections made through the Municipal Cost Component program.
Any additional costs incurred by Maine Revenue Services related to the deorganization of the Town of Atkinson can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.  The minor additional costs associated with the filing of certain election results can be absorbed by the Secretary of State utilizing existing budgeted resources. Any additional costs incurred by the Office of the State Auditor are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.