LEWISTON – The Lewiston School Committee said Monday it will formally investigate how an upcoming tax cap initiative could affect the school system.

But even before the numbers are officially in, most members agree the cap would be devastating.

“If Palesky does pass, education is a totally scary picture,” said City Council representative Renee Bernier.

Mainers are scheduled in November to vote on capping property taxes across the state at 1 percent of valuation. Proponents say the initiative would lower property taxes and force badly needed tax reform in Maine. Opponents say it would hurt cities and schools, which rely heavily on property taxes to operate.

Several cities, towns and school systems have said they will look into the initiative and tell voters how the tax cap might affect their services.

In Lewiston, City Administrator Jim Bennett has said the cap could mean a $25 million cut in city revenues. On Monday, School Committee members said they would look into what the initiative would mean to the schools.

“We really haven’t taken a public stance on this,” Superintendent Leon Levesque said. “I think it’s time now.”

Levesque hasn’t officially calculated the impact. But Monday he said his early estimates show the cap could force the School Committee to slash the school budget from nearly $37 million to about $12 million.

If that happened, he said, the school system could eliminate Lewiston Regional Technical Center, all sports and all busing and still need to cut more.

The School Committee is expected to hold a joint meeting with the City Council to discuss the situation on Tuesday, Sept. 14.