AUGUSTA – A new legislative committee that will explore how to lower property taxes by consolidating services in counties, towns and cities was unveiled Thursday.

The committee’s charge is to identify how county and municipal government can regionalize to cut costs. Less government overhead “can help Maine deliver better services at a lower cost, but it can only work through partnerships and sound planning,” said House Speaker Patrick Colwell. He added he’s expecting the committee to deliver legislation that will provide a framework for that cooperation.

Among the 15 members named to the legislative Joint Committee on Regionalization are Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston; Sen. Chandler Woodcock, R-Farmington; Sen. Kenneth Blais, R-Litchfield; and Rep. Janet Mills, D-Farmington.

Several committee members stressed Thursday the importance of local control, hinting they won’t go too far. “I’m not in favor of disbanding towns,” Mills said. She hopes the committee can find efficiencies “without sacrificing local color and local character.”

Rotundo agreed, saying, “What the committee will be about is listening.” Members will hear from experts as well as residents. Legislators are sensitive that “home rule” is important, Rotundo said. Farmington and Franklin County now save by pooling fuel purchases, and Lewiston and Auburn save through mutual agreements, such as one agency to handle emergency calls for both cities, both said.

But Gov. John Baldacci is pushing for more. In his State of the State address last month he called for fewer school administrative districts by regionalizing school departments. Specifics of the governor’s recommendation will be released next week, said Baldacci’s spokesman Lee Umphrey. A declining birth rate has meant Maine’s student enrollment is going down while education costs are going up, and property taxpayers are demanding relief. Reducing spending is needed at all levels, state, county and local, Umphrey said.

Meanwhile the governor’s proposal on property tax relief has yet to materialize. As it was in November, December and January, the administration is still negotiating with the opposing sides of the Nov. 4 Question 1A and 1B, the property tax referendum questions, Umphrey said Thursday. “It will be out sooner than later.”

That proposal is expected to be taken up before lawmakers adjourn in April, and before voters decide in June whether to accept or reject Question 1A, which would force the state to spend millions of dollars more on education.

The regionalization committee will meet on Feb. 12 and 13. After holding a public hearing and considering Baldacci’s regionalization proposal, it may recommend its own legislation for consideration by the House and Senate.

[email protected]