GRAY, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- A group of people living on the west side of Little Sebago Lake is petitioning to secede from Gray.
Jennifer White heads up the citizens group calling themselves the Gray Secession Committee.
She says on the other side of the lake, they already have to drive through Raymond to get to Gray, and many of their services like fire and EMS come from Raymond. "The taxes that we're paying to the town of gray don't adequately give us what we need for services and representation," said White on Monday.
The group has delivered a notice to Gray town manager, Deb Cabana, to start the lengthy process. Cabana says the town doesn't want to lose any property; this particular piece includes waterfront property, and White estimates more than 200 taxpayers.
In a news release, White said in part, "[The taxpayers] feel that the town of Gray’s current mil rate of 18.3 is a reflection of a municipality that favors undue spending at the expense of its residents. Many feel that the continuous increase in tax rates are out of line with the lack of services provided. On top of that, many citizens feel that some of the current municipal town councilors are their adversaries, not public servants working for the people. The disconnect with Gray, the lack of services provided, along with an ever increasing tax mil rate of 18.3 has caused residents to seek out a secession from the town and join the town of Raymond."
The group will start circulating a petition in March that more than 50% of the voters in that area will have to sign in order for the town of Gray to hold a public hearing on the matter. Within a year of that hearing, the legislature will hold an informal vote before it goes back to the town voters, then back to the state legislature for a formal vote.
For updates on the process, follow the Gray Secession Committee's Facebook page.