122nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1349		LR 1849(01)
	An Act To Encourage Neighborhood Schools and To Minimize Sprawl Caused by School Siting
	Fiscal Note for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Piotti of Unity
	Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Current Costs - State Mandate
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund
State Mandate
	New or Expanded Activity				Unit Affected	Costs
	Requiring school construction projects to be located in a designated growth area, an area served by a public sewer system, a census-designated place or a compact area in order to receive approval from the State Board of Education is a mandate.				School	Significant
					Municipality
	Requiring municipalities that do not already have a designated growth area, an area served by a public sewer system, a census-designated place or a compact area to adopt a comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance as well as a capital improvement plan to provide the public sewer, public water, sidewalk and multiple-use path infrastructure in order to receive approval for a school construction project from the State Board of Education is a mandate.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This legislation may increase the total State and Local cost for a school construction project if the costs for the public sewer, public water, sidewalk and multiple-use path infrastructure are incorporated into the cost of the project.  Because debt service costs associated with funding school construction projects can not exceed the annual levels established in Title 20-A, §15905, an increase in the total cost for a school construction project may result in a decrease in the total number of projects that may be approved in order to stay within the spending limits.  If all planned projects are to be undertaken the debt service limit may need to be raised.
	Additional costs to the State Board of Education to work with the State Planning Office to prepare and adopt the required criteria can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.