Dresden selectmen voted Monday to offer voters an article to form an exploratory committee on a possible withdrawal from Regional School Unit 2.

Board Chairman Dale Hinote agreed he would serve on the five-member committee if the article is approved at town meeting on June 18.

Hinote said that he would represent the educational component of the committee that would include members of the budget committee, planning board, an RSU 2 board member and a citizen at-large.

Budget committee member Jeffery Pierce proposed the idea at a March 28 workshop.

Contacted at home Monday night, Pierce said that the major concern is the rising cost of education.

“It takes a big part of our town budget,” said Pierce.

Pierce said the education portion of the budget has increased an average of $100,000 per year since the RSU was created. RSU 2 consists of Dresden, Richmond, Monmouth, Farmingdale and Hallowell.

Pierce questioned the amount of the RSU’s reserves, which he estimates at $1.4 million; and he wonders how the construction of a multi-million-dollar school in Monmouth will impact Dresden.

He said that the exploratory committee could determine that money could to be saved by withdrawing, or could conclude that the town is best off staying put.

“It doesn’t hurt to look,” said Pierce.

In other business, the board approved a request by the Maine Department of Transportation to use town roads for upcoming road work this season; appointed Melanie Gaczi swap shop coordinator; and announced that Valerie Woodworth will receive the Community Citizen’s Award in a ceremony at the Richmond Grange on Sunday, April 17 at 3 p.m.

Selectman Allan Moeller said that the town has asked the MDOT for a grant of $95,000 to repair culverts on Bogg Road. 

The board agreed to hold a joint meeting with the budget committee on Thursday, April 28 at 6 pm. at the town office to finalize the budget.