At Islesboro’s most recent town meeting on April 24, residents of the island community voted 101-12 to pursue secession from Waldo County to join Knox County. The next step in the process will be for both a state senator and a member of the state House of Representatives to propose legislation authorizing the transfer of Islesboro to Knox County. Such a bill can’t be introduced until the Legislature re-convenes in January 2005. After this action, another Islesboro vote must take place before the process is finalized, and Knox County voters must also agree to accept Islesboro into their county.
According to selectman Pete Anderson, head of the island’s Secession Committee, the main reasons for secession are twofold. The primary motivation is that “secession will be both financially and politically beneficial to Islesboro.” Presently, Islesboro contributes about 11 percent of Waldo County’s budget, an amount that would drop to 6 percent if Islesboro becomes part of Knox County. It’s estimated that the town of Islesboro would save as much as $300,000 per year, which breaks down to about $130 for the owner of an average house on Islesboro assessed at $185,000. Of course, owners of the island’s multimillion-dollar Dark Harbor “cottages” would realize far greater savings. As a member of Waldo County, Islesboro ends up paying the county’s second highest tax bill, even though it’s one of the smallest of the 26 towns making up Waldo County and uses fewer county services because of its remote location.
The other compelling reason for Islesboro’s secession from Waldo County is Islesboro’s status as the only island community in the county. Knox County, on the other hand, has four island towns with year-round populations – Vinalhaven, North Haven, Matinicus and Isle au Haut. Anderson says that while the secession is not about Waldo County per se, “it’s about Islesboro getting on an equal footing with other islands in Penobscot Bay.” By joining other island communities already united in one county, Islesboro might plausibly hope to receive benefits like better police coverage and have more political clout to advocate for unique island needs.
Reactions from both Waldo and Knox counties are predictable. The Knox County Board of Commissioners says they’ll welcome Islesboro – but also cautions that they can’t guarantee the county’s budget won’t increase in coming years. Waldo County Commission Chairman Jethro Pease, meanwhile, says losing Islesboro would have a detrimental impact on the rest of the towns in the county, who would have to take up the slack in lost tax revenues.