BANGOR – A theoretical plan to build a brand new, $30 million Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center sailed through the City Council Wednesday.

While the council supported the idea of tearing down the existing structures and replacing them with new facilities, a pressing question remained Wednesday: How does the city pay for what would be the largest and most expensive building project in its history?

At the Wednesday council meeting, the answers were still a work in progress, said councilors, who cited strong community support as a reason for backing the multi-million-dollar plan.

“Clearly without exception, we heard from the community, ‘Do not invest our tax dollars to repair something we have no pride in,”‘ said City Councilor Michael Crowley.

The council order specifically states that the council will review in 2002 the progress of funding the new construction. If the funding is inadequate to build the new facilities, the city will close the auditorium and civic center by Dec. 31, 2004.

City officials say the auditorium, built in 1954, has serious design flaws including a front lobby ill-equipped to hold large crowds and a main floor too small for many events, including concerts.

Maintaining the auditorium has also posed problems for the city, which spends about $500,000 annually to support the Bass Park complex.

City officials cite a leaky roof, worn out seating and outdated mechanical and electrical systems.

But while the facilities may be a maintenance headache, the council recognized the importance of the complex, which attracts more than 300,000 people each year, representing an economic impact of $30 million.

The cost of replacing the two facilities would translate into a 20-year property tax increase of $1.70 per $1,000 in valuation. With a current rate of $23.45 per $1,000 in valuation, the increase would result in an extra $170 for a property worth $100,000.

However, raising property taxes is not a popular idea with the council, which is considering several other options including countywide financing, a local option sales tax, private benefactors or a combination of those options.

Citing the facilities’ regional significance, city officials in the past month have visited surrounding communities floating the idea of countywide financing. Based on Bangor’s population, the city would pay about 25 percent of the cost.

The council had considered three options: building a new facility, investing $12 million into the buildings for repairs or simply closing the doors by 2004.

The $12-million option, if funded through property taxes, would result in a 70-cent increase in the tax rate. Setting a date to close the doors and funding only necessary repairs would gradually decrease the amount the city spends on the facility.

In other business, the council, in a unanimous vote, opted to move the proposed Bangor Skate Park to the west end of Bass Park in the parking lot near Dutton Street.

The $40,000 facility, proposed by a group of skateboarders, had been planned for the other side of the park near Buck Street, but the council reconsidered after surveying the site. As a result of the relocation, the parking lot connecting Dutton and Buck streets will no longer be a through way.

The group of skateboarders has already raised $20,000 toward the project, part of which is expected to be completed before the snow flies.

The city will spend an additional $40,000 to pave the base of the 15,000-square-foot park.

Donations may be sent to: Bangor Skate Park, c/o Eastern Maine Charities, P.O. Box 404, Bangor 04402-0404.