STRONG – An organizational school planning committee will review new financial information from the state Department of Education Thursday.

The new data indicates significant cost shifting with SAD 9 towns paying more than initially estimated and SAD 58 paying less, SAD 9 Superintendent Mike Cormier and SAD 58 Superintendent Quenten Clark both said Tuesday.

Residents from 16 communities have worked on a plan to consolidate SAD 9, SAD 58 and Coplin and Highland plantations into one school system for more than a year.

The school boards for all communities voted to submit a final plan to the state for the Western Mountains Regional School District, which is targeted to go before voters in each town in a referendum on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The new financial data based on the 2008-09 school year, indicates towns in SAD 9 and Coplin Plantation would pay more for education than initially estimated and towns in SAD 58 and Highland Plantation would pay less.

The Finance Committee, a sub-committee to the Planning Committee, was to meet Tuesday with Jim Rier of the Maine Department of Education to try to work out a funding solution to be presented to the entire planning panel at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Strong Elementary School.

The figures show all SAD 9 towns picking up increased costs for education, including Farmington about $370,000 more and Wilton about $200,000 more, Cormier said. Clark and Cormier said SAD 58 towns combined would pick up about $700,000 less, he said.