It's a group, not a committee. Edgecomb selectmen wanted to make that distinction apparent during the Jan. 7 meeting which featured a discussion with concerned taxpayers about recent upward trends in municipal spending. About a dozen seasonal and year-round residents voiced concerns in August shortly after receiving the annual tax bills.

A lengthy discussion resulted in selectmen and residents supporting a community driven fact-finding mission to investigate potential cost-saving opportunities for the school, fire department and overall municipal operations. Selectmen reviewed a proposed flyer written by the group during the Jan. 7 meeting. This led to a different discussion on whether the citizens were an independent entity or municipal committee. 

Since August, the group has researched municipal and school spending trends trying to better understand why the most recent tax bill resulted in a 32% property tax increase. The group is ready to share its findings and proposed sending a flyer. On the flyer's outside, it reads: "Is a 32% property tax increase too much for you?" On the inside bottom flap folded up, it reads: "Why are our property taxes so high?"

The inside contents also included the group's research pertaining to municipal and school budget spending. The group alleges the Edgecomb Eddy School budget increased by $92,000 every year since 2020. "We like to think we have a great school but compared to other surrounding area schools, state assessment scores reveal Edgecomb Eddy has dropped from the top to bottom of the academic scale. Its standard test scores are second lowest in English, third lowest in math, and the lowest in science," the flyer read.

Selectmen were uncomfortable with the flyer's tone. Selectman George Chase is a former school board member. He didn't agree with the group's assessment of Edgecomb Eddy School. "My child was in that school recently, and I am very satisfied. I don't agree with your findings at all," he said. 

The group requested email and mailing lists so it could send out a town-wide mailing to residents. But selectmen declined due to the uncertainty over whether the group was an official municipal organization. Chairman Michael Maxim commented in recent weeks he had concerns about the organization's name: Edgecomb Citizens Tax Committee. He believed it was more of a grassroots organization than an official committee. "I support what you guys are doing, but I don't want your findings to misrepresent the board. I think you are group, not necessarily a town committee," he said.

Stuart Smith is the citizen's group's chairman. He believed the group was specifically created by the selectmen and should be recognized as a town committee. "In August, you asked us to get involved. And that's what we did," he said. 

Group member Nort Fowler said the group would continue as an independent group and would pay for the mailing. 

In other action, selectmen are considering a referendum vote for the annual May town meeting. The board hopes a different format will create higher voter turnout. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the referendum-style format produced a nearly double voter turnout rate over the turnout in a public setting. Edgecomb returned to the open format two years ago after learning educational budgets couldn't be decided by referendum. 

But now, selectmen are reconsidering adopting the referendum method. The board received information which could possibly allow for municipal education spending to be decided by referendum. Selectmen are consulting with State Rep. Holly Stover about their voting options. "Anyway, if we can't vote on the school budget by referendum, I think we should consider voting on the rest by referendum. I think it's important that we hear from as many voters as possible," Selectman Lynn Norgang said.

Town meeting is set for Saturday, May 17. If it is a split vote, the school budget would occur in the morning and a referendum vote would take place from 1 to 7 p.m.

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 in the conference room.