MAINE MONITOR • January 29, 2023
Dennysville’s selectboard held a town meeting last fall to lay out the fiscal realities and asked residents how they’d feel about dissolving Dennysville as an independent town. Many expressed interest in pursuing de-organization. Adding to the town’s fiscal woes, some of its most valuable properties are being scooped up by the Butler Foundation to expand its Cobscook Shores conservation efforts Downeast. Forty-three acres purchased in Dennysville last year by the philanthropic group have been converted to non-taxable shoreline parkland, costing the town $2,587 in lost tax revenue. About half of Washington County is unorganized territory. Half of the state is also comprised of unorganized territories. To date, 53 towns have reverted to unorganized status, with Washington County leading the pack with 11 de-organizations.