Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §15657, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

4.__Appeals.__A school administrative unit may appeal to the commissioner the accuracy of the income data used in accordance with this section.__ That appeal must be made in writing within 30 days of the date of notification of the computed amount.__The commissioner shall review the appeal and make an adjustment if an adjustment is justified.__The commissioner may adjust the income factor used based on the examination of factors such as the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced meals and also the comparison of data from the Bureau of Revenue Services on income taxes for the municipality.__The commissioner's decision is final and binding.

SUMMARY

The purpose of this bill is to establish an appeals process for school administrative units that question the accuracy of the local median household income data used to determine their unit's weighted relative fiscal capacity under the School Finance Act of 1995.