JAY – Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday to dedicate funds gained from passage of the statewide education referendum to lower the property tax rate.

On June 8, Maine voters approved a measure requiring the state to pay a full 55 percent of local education costs, including special education.

Jay School Superintendent Robert Wall pledged his and the School Department’s support to see that the intent of the people’s vote be upheld.

People want any money gained from the referendum to be used to offset education costs and not new programs.

Selectmen changed the wording of a resolution to dedicate, if possible, a full 100 percent of the new revenue to reduce the property tax rate.

The resolution that came from the town of Brewer had originally said a minimum of 90 percent and if possible 100 percent.

The amended resolution claims that the Legislature’s failure in fully funding the state’s portion of local education costs has been a primary reason for the state’s high property tax rate, which has overburdened residents and made Maine less competitive economically.

Former Selectman Michael Houlihan said he thought the intent of the resolution was good, but it is all tied to spending.

“Without a cap or any limits on how much you spend,” Houlihan said, “this is kind of meaningless.”

The resolution shows the town’s intent is to use the money for property tax relief, Town Manager Ruth Marden said. “The intention is there.”

The town gets about $1.1 million in aid for its $10.6 million school budget. Estimates have been mentioned in regards to Jay, Wall said, that that number could be nearly $2 million with the adoption of the referendum.

Wall cautioned that the town wouldn’t know what the amount would be until the state sends out its final printout for Jay’s subsidy next year.

Any new funding coming in because of the passage of Question 1 would not be seen until 2005.

In other action, selectmen voted to:

• enter into a one-year ambulance service contract with Community Emergency Services.

• set up an ad hoc committee to develop a plan to explain to residents why a custom-built Pierce pumper is a better investment than other firetrucks.

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