Upset by the prospect of a proposed 8.8 percent increase in school taxes, Dresden selectmen and some residents Tuesday, April 13 raised the prospect of rejecting the proposed Regional School Unit 2 budget or withdawing from the district.

“We can vote it down,” said board member Allan Moeller. He recited the $186,400 increase selectmen learned of in a Zoom meeting the RSU 2 School Committee held the previous evening. “They need to go back to the drawing board,” Moeller added.

“They offered us no plan B,” said Administrative Assistant Mike Faass.

Moeller said selectmen were told if Dresden dropped out, it would save the district money. Enrollment in area schools had been dropping steadily, he said.

Selectman John Rzasa reminded the board the process of leaving the district would take over a year.

“Richmond would like us to join them,” Selectman Gerald Lilly said.

Resident Dave Probert said the issue could be brought before residents in the town’s newsletter. He Aldine suggested a low return on a poll on whether or not to change the annual town meeting date and time could also be republished in the newsletter. “Many people never received it,” he said of the poll.

In other business, the board agreed to arrange a visit by a member of the office of the Maine State Archives to determine if town records damaged in a flood in the basement of the town office might be salvaged. Historical committee vice president Joe Wiley said the records had been bagged after the flood 10 years previous and not been opened for fear the pages would dry and stick together.