Finding no partners, Augusta rejects consolidation

Kennebec Journal, August 23, 2007

(excerpts) Augusta schools are going to try to go it alone.

The Augusta Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to file an alternative plan with the state Department of Education, rather than consolidate with another local school unit.

Board members and administrators said Augusta tried to find consolidation partners, but found no takers. And if Augusta joined with School Administrative District 11, the only potential partner that didn't reply to Augusta's advances with a flat-out "no," it could cost Augusta taxpayers more money to consolidate than staying independent, according to Superintendent Cornelia Brown.

...

Brown said the financial data indicates that, if the two consolidated, it could cost Augusta taxpayers $564,136 more per year to partner with SAD 11, due in large part to Augusta's property valuation being considerably higher than SAD 11 communities'.

That analysis was based upon the current year's budget, for systems functioning as they are now.

"Isn't the whole idea of this to save money?" said Jane Dennison, an Augusta school board member. "If we can save money by staying on our own, isn't that what we should do?"