If the move to consolidate Wiscasset schools is going to happen, it will have to go by petition.

The Wiscasset Board of Selectmen decided against entering into a non-binding referendum during its March 4 meeting.

The issue was brought forth by resident Tony True, who said something needs to be done about Wiscasset's high property tax rate. True said he was bounced from board of selectmen to school board as he sought a town vote on consolidating one of the town's three schools.

The board agreed to turn down the non-binding referendum, meaning True will need to float a petition if the issue is to move forward.

Even with a petition, there are several problems, Selectmen’s Chairman Ed Polewarcyzk said.

“I worry about what facts and figures you will be able to present to people,” Polewarcyzk said.

But, True said something needs to happen, and the town should work to have the information available to its residents.

“The way the warrant was written it's unclear which way we need to go,” True said. “What I would like to have is a vote to see which way the town wants to go. They're the ones paying for it.”

True said ballpark figures on how much it would cost to shut down up to two schools would help clarify Wiscasset's situation.

“I would be interested in seeing how it relate to our tax bills, because the way the town is now, I don't see (the tax rate) going down,” he said.

Polewarcyzk said that there are costs inherent with shutting down one or two schools; the maintenance and upkeep for a building on the market being one of the most pressing.

Either way, True said, nothing bad could happen if more information was made available.

“As a town, we have a record of making a whole lot of decisions without all the information up front,” True said. “We've always got choices, but we need to get the tax rate down to make Wiscasset more attractive.”

Related: Man seeks town vote on consolidating Wiscasset schools