A Tiny Town in Maine Doesn’t Want to Exist Anymore
Most of the time, when you hear about town council meetings up in Maine, it's about new ordinances, taxes, or how to build up things bigger and better. What you rarely hear about after a council meeting is a town that no longer wants to exist. According to the Maine Monitor, that's exactly what is taking place is a tiny town in Washington county.
Dennysvillle, Maine, is Considering Not Existing
If you've never heard of Dennysville, Maine, you're not alone. You have to go back hundreds of years to find when the tiny town was its most popular, capitalizing on a lumber trade that was thriving. Modern times have been unkind to Dennysville, as the town is filled with lifers on fixed incomes and a remaining population that is rapidly dwindling. That has left town officials with difficult choices on how to spend tax dollars and what to do when those tax dollars run out. Those stresses have them considering dissolving the town altogether.
A Lot of Space to Take Care of and No Money to Do It
Dennysville boasts 326 residents that are paying a steep tax bill for a town in Washington County. Like so many small towns in Maine, Dennysville struggles to keep up with road maintenance from harsh winters. Despite barely over 300 residents, the town is 15 square miles, including a stretch of route 1. Road repairs account for nearly one quarter of all town expenses, and the town fears its bills will outweigh its income. The answer? Disband the town and fall under state jurisdiction.
53 Towns in Maine Have Already Decided Not to Exist
It may come as a surprise to lifelong Mainers, but there's already been 53 towns in the state's history that have dissolved for one reason or another. History has shown that financial issues and a lack of population have caused other towns to fold up shop. But before Dennysville can become Maine's newest unorganized territory, they'll need to complete an arduous 12-step process that Maine requires. If they meet the requirements, Dennysville could be wiped off of maps and atlases in the next 2-3 years.