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BY DARLA L. PICKETT
Staff Writer 07/24/2008

HIGHLAND PLANTATION -- An increase in education costs and taxes has petitioners in Highland Plantation seeking to deorganize, according to assessor Jo Dunphy.

A special town meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Town House to discuss deorganization of the plantation and to decide whether to develop a deorganization process and elect a local commission.

Dunphy said more than 20 people signed the petition.

"We had to have at least 50 percent of the last gubernatorial election," Dunphy said. "We only needed 18 or 19 (signers) to make that happen."

Dunphy said school costs are a big issue for residents, who pay tuition to send all but one student to School Administrative District 58 in Kingfield and one to SAD 74, comprised of Anson, North Anson, Solon, Embden and New Portland.

"For the past two years, we've had a huge increase in the school budget," Dunphy said.

Last year's school budget was $84,000, she said. The upcoming budget is $155,220.

"Our taxes have gone up a lot this year," Dunphy said. "People are upset and rightly so, but deorganization may not necessarily be the way to go."

Darla L. Pickett -- 474-9534, Ext. 341

dpickett@centralmaine.com

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