March 29, 2024
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Lawmakers compromise, pass 4-bond package

AUGUSTA – Many high-profile borrowing proposals were cut and others were eliminated as part of a compromise package of four bonds totaling just under $112 million that was approved by lawmakers Tuesday. They now go to the voters for approval at referendum in either June or November.

Included in the proposed bonds is a measure to build a new prison in Machias.

“I knew I would not get all that I wanted in the bond package,” said Gov. Angus King. “But overall I think we have a good compromise to go to the voters.”

King had proposed a $118 million package. During negotiations, the two parties had proposals ranging from $72 million to more than $130 million.

“I think it is a good package that balances the needs of the state,” said Sen. Richard Bennett, R-Norway, the Senate president. “It is a little more than I had hoped for, but the voters will have the final say on the bonds.”

Rep. Michael Saxl, D-Portland, the speaker of the House, said there were some additional items he would have liked in the package. He said the four bond measures were a compromise.

“It’s a great time to be borrowing the money,” he said. “The interest rates are low.”

Some high-profile items were cut. King had wanted $10 million for homeland security, but that was cut to just $540,000 for court security equipment.

The largest of the four bonds is for economic development and totals nearly $34 million. The second bond is for school and state facilities and totals $28.5 million. The third bond is for a new prison in Machias and renovations at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham and totals $25 million. The fourth bond is for agriculture and environmental programs and totals $24.1 million.

There was some controversy over when to send the bonds to the voters for their approval. Several lawmakers objected to sending the economic development and the facilities bond issues to the voters in June arguing that fewer voters go to the polls for primary elections than for fall general elections.

“We need to get these bonds out to help the economy,” said Rep. Randy Berry, D-Livermore, co-chairman of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, “that’s why we want them in June.”

Others argued that the borrowing proposals should be on the ballot when most voters go to the polls because they are important decisions. Berry countered that everyone can vote for the bonds at the June 11 election, not just party voters deciding the nominees for various offices.

The corrections bond as well as the agriculture and environmental bond will be on the ballot Nov. 5.

The largest of the bond measures lumps several borrowing proposals under the somewhat broad umbrella of economic development. It includes $6 million for creation of a new Maine Rural Development Authority. Another $8 million renews two existing loan programs at the Finance Authority of Maine.

The measure also provides $4 million for a program that provides grants or loans to municipalities for public infrastructure improvements.

The University of Maine System gets $9 million for two new centers for product development and testing, one at Orono and one at Gorham.

Several groups, including the Jackson Lab in Bar Harbor and the Foundation for Blood Research in Portland, will share $4.5 million if the bond is approved.

In addition, $400,000 million is allocated for development of the Schoodic Education and Research Center at the former naval base in Winter Harbor. That money would provide the match for $4 million in federal funds.

The bond also includes $540,000 for security screening equipment at courthouses.

Several cultural facilities, including centers in Lewiston and Dover-Foxcroft, will share $1.53 million to help promote cultural tourism if the economic development bond is approved by voters.

The school and state facilities bond provides $13 million for the School Revolving Renovation Loan Fund that provides loans and grants to schools for projects of less than $1 million. It also provides $7 million for the installation of sprinklers in dormitories at public colleges through out the state. This bond also includes $8 million to renovate the Harlow Building in Augusta for use by state agencies that now rent office space, and the Preble Street Resource Center in Portland gets $500,000 to improve its teen homeless shelter.

The fourth bond provides funds for 15 different agriculture and environmental program areas, with the largest item in the $24.1 million bond going for $7 million in fish hatchery improvements. Other items range from $5 million for water pollution control facilities to $500,000 for the potato marketing improvement program.


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