FREEPORT (AP) — University of Southern Maine officials want to sell the John Calvin Stevens-designed Stone House in Freeport in an effort to cut costs at a time the entire state university system is dealing with budget struggles.

President Theodora Kalikow said in an email Monday “it no longer makes financial sense” to hold onto the property given maintenance costs and the fact it’s only used 40 days a year for the university’s creative writing master’s program.

The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/1yJ25BE ) reported that it would cost $8.5 million to update the 10,000-square-foot facility, from updating the heating and septic systems, to making it accessible to the disabled.

Selling Stone House will save up to $110,000 annually.

The proposal must be approved by the University of Maine System trustees at their July meeting.