Following the recent state cut in school subsidies, Gorham Town Council Tuesday passed a resolution asking Gov. John Baldacci and Legislature for the state to pay its 55 percent share of local education costs.

The resolution, sponsored by town council chairman Matt Robinson, stated that several years ago the state voters approved a referendum requiring the state pay the 55 percent and the state adopted a plan to comply with voter approval.

Robinson said in Tuesday’s meeting the resolution was to let the government know the voters demand 55 percent. “So it doesn’t come down on local taxpayers,” Robinson said.

Burleigh Loveitt, Gorham town councilor, said, “Every dollar taken out of education funding lands on our tax rate. It either means drastic cuts or local tax increases.”

Gorham Superintendent Ted Sharp Wednesday was to discuss his district’s slash in state subsidy with Gorham principals, financial officer Hollis Cobb and Special Education Director Katie Hawes.

The state is slicing $324,000 from its original subsidy of about $16 million allocated to Gorham for this year. But staff and teacher ranks in Gorham appear to escape unscathed in what Sharp Monday called the first round of state allocation reductions. Sharp said the state money cut would unlikely reduce Gorham’s staff.

“We’ve put a freeze on spending except for essentials,” Sharp said.

Cuts in Gorham planned now would impact buying supplies like paper and canceling field trips. Sharp said the “first filter” in making what he called “discretionary” cuts would rest in hands of the school principals.

But Sharp worries another cut in state funding could be coming. “It sounds like a second hammer coming in January,” Sharp said.

If another state reduction was announced next month, timing could be problematic for districts halfway through the budget year. Sharp said layoffs would require 90 days notice according to law.

Gorham is a member of Sebago Alliance, which includes Westbrook and Bonny Eagle, and Sharp said the alliance is “ratcheting up” a collaborative effort to save money. “We’re putting our heads together,” Sharp said.