126th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 783		LR 125(02)
	An Act To Change the Voting Requirements for the Withdrawal of a Municipality from a Regional School Unit
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2013-14	FY 2014-15	Projections  FY 2015-16	Projections  FY 2016-17
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$178,403	$826,426	$1,474,882	$1,287,000
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$178,403	$826,426	$1,474,882	$1,287,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill includes General Fund appropriations totaling $178,403 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $826,426 in fiscal year 2014-15 for the costs associated with changes to the provisions in current law regarding municipalities withdrawing from regional school units (RSU's).
	The General Fund appropriations include $178,403 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $182,926 in fiscal year 2014-15 to the School Finance and Operations Program within the Department of Education for one Education Specialist II position and one Education Specialist III position and related all other costs to support the anticipated increase in workload associated with the process of municipalities withdrawing from regional school units.  This fiscal note assumes that the increased workload will subside in fiscal year 2016-17 and these positions will end.
	The General Fund appropriations also include $643,500 to the General Purpose Aid to Local Schools program within the Department of Education for the State's share of the increased cost of K-12 public education as a result of municipalities withdrawing from regional school units.  This fiscal note assumes that voters in 25% of  municipalities that are part of regional school units will vote to withdraw from an RSU in fiscal year 2014-15 and an additional 25% will vote to withdraw in fiscal year 2015-16, resulting in additional administrative costs to these local school administrative units.