WINHALL, Vt. (AP) – Officials in another community want their town to secede from Vermont and join New Hampshire.

The Winhall Selectboard plans to ask voters about the secession idea on Town Meeting Day on March 1.

Town officials believe property taxes in Vermont are too high and the education funding system is flawed. A successful secession vote would send a message to the Legislature, said Selectboard Chairman Frank Pinto.

“It’s to make a statement to Montpelier,” he said. “We’re not happy.”

Killington voters approved a proposal last year to merge with New Hampshire after repeated attempts to challenge the state’s education law.

Like Killington, Winhall is considered a sending or “gold” town under Vermont’s education funding law, and is responsible for sending more money to the state in taxes than other towns. About 90 percent of properties are vacation homes in the town that borders Stratton and its popular ski resort.

Winhall – population 730 – sends roughly $7 million to the state in property taxes but gets back just $1 million and local officials say the returning dollars simply aren’t enough.

To formally secede, Winhall would have to get approval from the New Hampshire and Vermont legislatures, respective governors James Douglas and John Lynch, and, finally, Congress.

Officials in Killington, think they could save about $10 million in property taxes if the town moved to New Hampshire. Killington Town Manager David Lewis planned to meet with Lynch soon to discuss whether New Hampshire legislators would be willing to add towns like Winhall to a bill that would establish a commission to negotiate secession terms.

Gov. James Douglas’ press secretary Jason Gibbs has said state leaders hope municipalities considering secession reconsider as the governor is equally concerned about property taxes.

Meanwhile, some New Hampshire officials think having a neighbor state pursue their sales tax- and income tax-free state may not be a bad idea.

“It’s flattering,” said Pam Walsh, Lynch’s press secretary. “We love New Hampshire. We love being part of it.”