LIVERMORE FALLS – A regional school planning committee voted 9-1 Tuesday to have a potential new school district base its cost-sharing formula for money needed over the state funding model’s recommendation on valuation.

The vote also froze that method for five years.

However, there are mechanisms built into the state reorganization school law that would allow change to that method sooner, including by petition, school officials said.

Dan DiPompo of Jay opposed the vote.

A planning committee made up of residents of Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls have been wrangling over a cost-sharing formula for some time.

Currently, the three towns raise a combined $3.28 million in local dollars over the essential programs and services state model. Of that amount, Jay raises $2.39 million, Livermore raises $459,198 and Livermore Falls raises $435,575. The latter two towns have local debt included in the additional local funds raised for the Livermore Elementary School.

Under the 2008 state valuation, Jay is valued at $930.2 million, Livermore at $182.1 million and Livermore Falls at $172.9 million, according to information provided at the meeting.

Factoring in the additional dollars each raises locally, above the state formula for education, and factoring in valuation, it breaks down that Jay would pay $2.37 million or 72.4 percent, Livermore would pay $465,494.44 or 14.2 percent, and Livermore Falls would pay $441,934.15 or 13.5 percent.

According to this formula that means if the towns were combined into one school system using the 2008 valuation, Livermore would pay $6,251.44 more than it does now and Livermore Falls would pay $6,359.15 more. Jay would pay $12,610.59 less.

Different scenarios with different variables were discussed including having a cost-sharing formula for the additional local money set at 50 percent valuation and 50 percent student population.

Using that formula Livermore’s share would increase $106,587 and Livermore Falls would increase $366,267 while Jay’s decreased $472,854.

Committee members chose the valuation method because it was closest to what each town is paying now for the costs incurred over the state funding model.