Recently, a delegation of elected and appointed officials from the city of Bangor visited Washington to meet with our state’s congressional delegation and representatives of several federal departments on issues of importance not only to Bangor, but our entire state. While at times we may wish otherwise, it is clear that federal legislation and administrative policy can and does have tremendous impact on our city and our region.

Among the issues we discussed was federal funding for special education. While we all share a moral commitment to provide the best possible education for all of our children, most of us are unaware that the federal government has a long standing commitment to provide 40 percent of the costs of this program. In 1997, the actual funding level was seven percent. At the same time, special education costs are growing at twice the rate of growth of total school spending. As this newspaper has repeatedly noted, the State of Maine is in default of its promises to fund local school systems. Unfortunately, so is the federal government. We consistently called upon federal officials to make special education a funding priority and to meet this existing commitment before new school initiatives are undertaken.

On transportation issues, we believe progress is being made. Our delegation is firmly committed to working with us to make the east-west highway a reality. In a meeting with the administrator of the National Highway Administration, we were assured that Maine’s application for border crossing and corridor funds would be given full and fair consideration. We were also offered access to the Department’s Innovative Finance Team as we review practical ways of paying for this project as well as the proposed I-95 extension. Just as important, Congress is currently working hard on the reauthorization of the Airport Improvement Program and appears committed to insure that all airline ticket tax revenues will be committed to federal aviation programs, a commitment which will mean a significant increase in federal support for capital investments at Bangor International Airport.

We also had the opportunity to meet with senior officials of the Department of Housing and Urban Development where we urged their support for our community’s homeless programs and additional ice storm relief for Maine’s utilities. Here again, we were assured that Bangor’s application for renewal of its shelter plus care grant would receive full consideration in spite of the increased competition which we will face from similar programs funded at the state level and in the City of Portland — programs which were unexpectedly not fully funded this year. We were also able to join with our Congressional delegation to urge additional funding for ice storm recovery in recognition of the high electric rates Maine citizens already face. Without such assistance, these rates will only increase and will be paid by all of us — utility customers, not utility owners.

On another issue which is close to all of us, we found uniform support for federal legislation which will provide Bangor with the flexibility and financial resources to deal effectively with combined sewer overflows. These overflows, which must be eliminated or significantly minimized, have already cost our sewer utility $15 million with an additional $15 million yet to be spent over the next eight years. This unfunded federal mandate has contributed significantly to the increases which we have all seen in our sewer bills.

Over the last several years and regardless of our political affiliations or philosophies, many of us have “tuned out” Washington with its high level of partisan debate and politics of personality. For better or worse, however, the actions which are or are not taken in Washington have a direct and immediate effect in Bangor. Lack of special education funding, as promised by federal law, means higher property taxes. Inadequate federal support for environmental mandates means higher sewer bills. Decisions made in various federal departments often determine who receives federal assistance for critical transportation needs and economic development projects and who does not. Even more unfortunately, federal decisions can make the difference between a roof over one’s head and a night spent without shelter in a Maine winter.

The good news is that Maine’s congressional delegation understands our needs and our priorities and is working for our interests. The bad news is that they are just four among 465, and they need all the help they can get. Through our presence in Washington, we made our city’s and region’s needs known and hopefully added some “grease” to the wheels of progress.

Joseph M. Baldacci is the mayor of Bangor.