A proposal to ban disposable plastic shopping bags will be sent to voters on the June 14 ballot in Kennebunk.
Residents also will elect two selectmen, two school board members and vote on the Regional School Unit 21 budget.
Selectmen requested the town’s Energy Efficiency Committee develop the plastic bag ordinance with local students after Sea Road School fifth-grader Bella Rossborough and her classmates went public with a report on reactions to similar bans.
The proposal would ban all single-use plastic bags at all stores in town. Paper bags are not included in the ban. Plastic bags used for dry cleaning, newspapers and for meat, fish and fresh produce are exempt from the ban.
A number of Maine communities, including Portland, South Portland and Falmouth, have imposed 5-cent fees on plastic and paper shopping bags. Last year, York became the first town in Maine to ban plastic shopping bags. Freeport voters will decide June 14 if they want to implement a ban on plastic bags and 5-cent fee on paper bags.
The ballot also includes votes for selectmen, school board members and trustees for the Kennebunk Sewer District and Kennebunk Light and Power District.
There are two open seats on the Board of Selectmen. Richard Morin, a current selectmen and former police officer, is seeking a third three-year term. The other candidates include Blake Baldwin, a retired banker; Thomas Cahoon, who retired as a lieutenant with Kennebunk Fire and Rescue; and William Ward Jr., who served on the board from 2011-14.
There are two open seats for three-year terms on the RSU 21 Board of Directors. The candidates are Emily Kahn and incumbent Matthew Fadiman. Current board member Frank Drigotas is not seeking reelection.
Edward Sharood and Wayne Brockway are running for the two open trustee positions for the Kennebunk Sewer District. Daniel Bartilucci and Michael Jordan for one open position as trustee of Kennebunk Light and Power.
Residents on Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel will vote on a $43 million budget for RSU 21.
The budget is up by $2.9 million, or 7.43 percent, an increase driven largely by debt service for construction projects at the high school and two elementary schools in the district. That increased debt service added more than $2 million to the budget, according to district officials.
Without the debt service, the operating budget is up $916,000, or just under 3 percent, according to district officials.
The budget will add $100 per year to the tax bill for a Kennebunk home valued at $200,000. In Arundel, it will add $108 per year to the taxes on a $200,000 home and Kennebunkport residents with homes of that value can expect to see a tax increase of $110.
Voters also will be asked if they would like to continue voting on the school budget. That question is put to voters every three years.
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