KENNEBUNK — The RSU 21 Cost-Sharing Amendment Committee held its first meeting Wednesday night, and it seems likely the agreement signed in 2013 will not be changed.

Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport agreed to share non-state-funded costs for their consolidated school district, RSU 21, in 2013. The agreement was signed with the knowledge it would be reviewed by a committee in fiscal year 2017. The agreement is then subject to review every 10 years.

Each town is responsible for paying local funds based on 90 percent of the town’s valuation and 10 percent of the student population.

In a roundtable discussion Wednesday, the committee did not express any major concerns regarding the document. Many said that while the agreement isn’t perfect, it has proven to be effective.

“Nothing is perfect, and (the agreement) does work. As a municipal officer of one of the towns, I’d like to see it shifted to alleviate our burden, but I’m also a realist,” said Mike Mosher of Kennebunk.

“Lauding the art of politics, my response as a candidate was, well, we have a lot of wealthy property along the shoreline, which generates a large tax base, and we also have one of the oldest populations, which means less kids going to school,” said Peter Fellenz, RSU 21 representative from Kennebunkport.

Both Mosher and Fellenz said the current 90-10 ratio places some kind of financial burden on each town.

Based on averages from the past three fiscal years, Arundel is valued at $415.4 million, Kennebunk at $2.12 billion and Kennebunkport at $1.82 billion.

Using this year’s school budget of about $43 million, residents of the three towns are responsible for sharing a combined $25.8 million in costs. Kennebunk bears 50 percent of the weight for that figure, with 1,581 students. Kennebunkport only has about 20 percent of students in the district, yet pays about 38 percent of the bill.

“I think there’s been a good deal of give and take and, in a perfect world, we may enjoy a smaller bill. I think the reality is where we are right now has come about from much effort, and I don’t know if there’s going to be a better solution,” said Stuart Barwise, a Kennebunkport selectman representative. “I echo the sentiments for perfection, but my gut tells me not to mess with it.”

If the committee decides to alter the cost-sharing ratio based on valuation and student count at its next meeting, that decision will need to go to a districtwide referendum and pass by a majority vote from each town.

“The political reality is, if you change this formula, it would have to be passed in all three communities, and if we change it, no matter how we change it, one community’s going to feel slighted,” said Ed Hutchins, a Kennebunkport selectman representative.

“I think if we look at the process that came about in 2012-13, although it’s not a perfect document, I think it’s worked pretty well,” said Richard Smith, a representative from Kennebunk. “I think when you look at approximately 77 percent of the budget is state-mandated, it is very heavily weighted toward student population, and this rendition we crafted the last time has at least addressed some of that issue.”

The committee will meet again this coming Wednesday, during which it is expected to vote on a recommendation put forth by facilitator Jake Clockedile based on its first meeting.

It’s likely the cost-sharing agreement will remain the same, but if the committee cannot come to an agreement this week, another meeting may be set for Aug. 24.

“I think, from my perspective, what we have currently in place has worked reasonably well,” Smith said.

CORRECTION: A version of this article that ran on Saturday’s A1 page incorrectly stated the share for which Kennebunk is responsible for paying. Kennebunk pays 50 percent of RSU 21’s cost-sharing agreement based on 90 percent town valuation and 10 percent pupil population. 

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or [email protected].