CHESTERVILLE – Selectmen have adopted a resolution opposing the Palesky tax cap.

In it, the board resolves to press for the speedy implementation of the school finance initiative passed by state voters in June, requiring the state to pay 55 percent of the cost of kindergarten-through-12th-grade education, in order to provide property tax relief.

And, the board plans to ensure that the implementation of the law requiring increased state support for education results in the reduction of property taxes, not in an increase in municipal spending.

“We as a board are not in favor of this tax-cap plan,” selectmen wrote in a notice to residents.

Voters statewide will vote on the property tax-cap initiative Nov. 2.

The proposed Palesky 1 percent tax cap would reduce the town of Chesterville’s current municipal budget by $280,870, which is 34 percent of all property taxes currently collected, even when calculated most favorably given the constitutionally questionable sections of the proposal, the board stated.

The board’s notice states that the county and SAD 9 send the town bills each year, and the town is responsible for paying them. “What is left is what we can spend,” selectmen stated.

The town’s total spending package this year was $836,851.

“Under the Palesky proposal we would only be able to raise $555,851. This figure is the 1 percent cap of 1996 assessments. This year’s school bill was $564,456 and county tax was $58,500,” selectmen stated.

The board believes that the budget cuts caused by the tax cap would result in irresponsible reductions in municipal services that would not be in the best interests of town residents.

The long-term impact of the Palesky proposal, selectmen stated, would be both increased state taxes and a shift in control over local government affairs from the town meeting to the state.

They also noted that they don’t believe the state could adequately or efficiently perform the local services that would be reduced or eliminated as a result of the proposed 1 percent cap.

They also said the cap would not have a fair and equal impact on all residents, or all municipalities.

Selectmen said that if the proposal is passed, the town office would not be open, except on a limited basis.

Fire protection, transfer station, trash collection, the ambulance and road maintenance would ultimately become billed as some kind of a user fee, they stated.

“It is obvious that these fees, if in fact were imposed, your personal bill to the town will most likely be more than your tax bill,” according to selectmen.

“If these fees were not imposed,” selectmen stated, “the town would most likely become bankrupt, and it would then be up to the courts to decide what happens next.”