CUMBERLAND (AP) – Cumberland’s town council has voted to adopt an agreement it forged last month allowing Great Chebeague and other islands to secede. Chebeague would also leave School Administrative District 51.
The matter now goes to the Legislature, which has the final say on secessions. A hearing is scheduled for Friday before the State and Local Government Committee on a bill that would authorize the separation and incorporation of a new Town of Chebeague Island as of July 1, 2007.
Island residents are hoping their agreement with Cumberland will help to persuade lawmakers to approve the breakup. But some lawmakers believe the move could set a bad precedent while Gov. John Baldacci pushes for communities and school districts to consolidate.
Great Chebeague is the second-largest island in Casco Bay and lies just east of Cumberland, 10 miles north of Portland.
The legislation includes in the secession territory Great Chebeague Island and several other islands that lie within the boundaries of Cumberland.
The roughly 350 year-round residents of Great Chebeague want to break away to avoid rapidly rising taxes and property values. Islanders say they are paying more in taxes to Cumberland, which has a total population of more than 7,000, than they are getting in return.
AP-ES-02-28-06 0947EST
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