TRENTON — Some 40 voters, along with State Representative Bob Crosthwaite (R-Ellsworth) and State Senator Dennis Damon (D-Hancock County), attended Saturday’s annual town meeting to act on a 29-article warrant.

While there were questions and requests for more information or clarification, all warrant articles, with the exception of those dealing with the school budget, passed with little discussion.

The state’s new school funding law — LD 1 — changed the way state money is allocated to towns and cities, and, as Damon explained, urban areas tend to fare better than rural areas such as Trenton where the per pupil operating cost of $7,292 is the highest in Union 92. The cost in Ellsworth, for example, is $5,159 and the highest cost in the area is on the Cranberry Isles where it is $16,309.

In part, rural areas fare less well under LD 1 because of declining school population and an increase in land values, he said.
 

The good news for Trenton — although initially not everyone saw it that way — is that the per-pupil cost would have been considerably higher if “cushions” had not been added to the law to ensure that no community received fewer dollars this year than last. “We owe Dennis [Damon] a deep vote of gratitude to get funding at the same level as in the past,” said Union 92 Superintendent William Fowler.

The new law has determined that the state will fund, for example, 55 percent of the salary of one principal for every 300 students and one assistant principal for every 500 students. According to the budget listed in the Trenton warrant, the principal’s salary is $67,000, but Trenton only has 160 students in grades K-8, so the state, in effect, would pay about 27 percent of the salary. There are similar ratios for classroom and special education teachers, guidance counselors and library staff.

“When the first round of EPS [Essential Programs and Services] funding came out and before Dennis [Damon] put the cushions in, Trenton would have lost $200,000,” said Union 92 business manager David Bridgham.

Because the School Board and administration are concerned that the cushions may not be in place in future years, they had suggested beginning a reserve account, but the selectmen did not want to include the $100,000 proposed allocation in this year’s budget and have it sit in the bank, said First Selectman Jim Cameron.

Voters agreed to enter into a three-year contract with County Ambulance and approved $8,220 for the first year. Voters also approved $190,000 for solid waste disposal, up $3,000 since last year, and $20,000 for the purchase of road sand and salt.

Cameron opened Saturday’s meeting with an overview of town affairs for 2004. Some of the highlights include: purchasing a new computer system with sufficient backup; having the Trenton Business Park at full capacity; actively participating in the Acadia Disposal District; and examining transportation alternatives and developing a Web site so that residents can stay more informed about town affairs.

At the beginning of the meeting, residents had their first view of the Web site. Designer and Trenton resident Kim Hawkins walked voters through the various pages beginning with the home page that includes e-mail addresses for town officials and board members. There are links on the Web site to town and school information, events calendar, phone and business directories, public services, the historical society and the Trenton Chamber of Commerce. Both Hawkins and Cameron pointed out that the Web site is for information, not for business transactions. The text on each of the pages is superimposed over a historical photo. The Web site, said Hawkins, will be updated periodically and has the potential for growth.