AUGUSTA (AP) – A legislative committee is endorsing a bill aimed at removing financial barriers to Maine school districts as they attempt to consolidate.

The Education Committee voted 10-2 in favor of the bill Thursday. It’s expected to go before the full House and Senate in early January.

The bill is to help school districts adjust under a law that’s designed to sharply reduce the number of Maine school administrative units and save millions of dollars.

It would help school districts account for cost-shifting by allowing communities to develop their own local cost-sharing agreements.

It would allow some school units that currently receive a minimum subsidy to retain that subsidy, even if they join with another unit.

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