BANGOR (AP) – Leaders of an initiative to repeal Maine’s school consolidation law say they’re closing in on a big milestone.

The Maine Coalition to Save Schools says it has several thousand more voters’ signatures than the 55,087 needed to send its proposal to the Legislature. But campaign leader Lawrence “Skip” Greenlaw says he expects to have more than 60,000 signatures by the time they’re submitted to election officials next month.

If enough petitions are approved, the repeal proposal would go to the Legislature, which would have an option to pass the initiative or send it to voters.

Gov. John Baldacci pushed for the law that he says will save millions of dollars. But Greenlaw’s group says the law shifts local education costs from one community to another.

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com

AP-ES-09-09-08 0957EDT