LEEDS – Selectmen have adopted a “resolve” to dedicate at least 90 percent of any new funding made available to the town by the school funding referendum to mill-rate reduction.

If possible, town leaders would dedicate all of the money made available by referendum Question 1, approved by voters in June, to reducing local tax bills.

Passage of referendum Question 1 requires the state to honor its goal to fund 55 percent of local education costs, including special education. The goal of spending more state money on K-12 education was established in 1984, but the state has failed to meet it.

After the referendum passed in June, Gov. John Baldacci said lawmakers wouldn’t decide until next year how to spend more state money on local education. It was unclear whether any property tax relief would happen.

“It is our desire to show the governor and the Legislature that by adopting the resolve, we are committed to giving relief to our taxpayers with the new funding,” said Administrative Assistant Jane Wheeler.

She said town officials hope other leaders will pass similar resolves and share them with the governor, the Legislature and the Maine Municipal Association.