Island Falls voters kill plan to study withdrawal from CSD 9

ISLAND FALLS – Voters on Monday voted 141-21 not to raise $20,000 for a study on the town’s possible withdrawal from CSD 9, the Southern Aroostook Community School District.

The issue was put before voters after town officials last month received a petition bearing 38 signatures calling for a special election to be held.

Signers of the petition were concerned that the state’s valuation of the town – more than $41 million in 2002 – forced local taxpayers to pay a larger share of the school district’s budget, even though it had a smaller percentage of the pupils.

Much of the town’s higher valuation is due to the town having two large lakes with numerous developed properties.

The district’s assessment to Island Falls for this year was $635,002, or 39 percent of the total local share of the CSD 9 budget.

The town, however, has only 107 students, or 26 percent of the district’s enrollment.

The district bases its assessments to towns on the overall property valuation determined by the state. Enrollment is not a factor.

More than 28 percent of the town’s 568 registered voters cast votes Monday.

With defeat of the proposal, no further action is required by the town.