Poll finds Mainers OK bonds Funds target water, roads, school facilities

AUGUSTA – Mainers surveyed in a recent statewide poll strongly support the five largest bond issues appearing on next month’s ballot.

State officials speculated that a desire to stimulate a lethargic economy and bargain basement interest rates currently offered by lending institutions were factors influencing the 600 likely Maine voters interviewed by Strategic Marketing Services. Concerns over terrorist attacks or U.S. military action in Afghanistan did not cause those surveyed to be less enthusiastic about investing in the state’s future.

“We thought that some might be more conservative or cautious, so it’s good news,” said Kay Rand, chief of staff to Gov. Angus S. King.

The poll asked participants how they would vote on all six bond issues that will appear on the ballot Nov. 6, but results were only released Tuesday on five of them.

Patrick O. Murphy, president of the Portland-based polling group, said Question 2, a $5 million proposal for biomedical research and marine research and development for Maine-based nonprofit and state research institutions, was excluded from the poll because a client had commissioned SMS to work on that issue.

Murphy said the telephone numbers of those surveyed were selected at random from a computer-generated telephone list between Sept. 22 and Sept. 29. Only those respondents who were registered to vote, voted in the last two state elections and indicated that they were “most likely” or “definitely” going to vote in the Nov. 6 referendum were included in the survey. The margin of error in the poll was 4 percent.

Results released Tuesday were:

. Question 1, $10 million to address the state’s affordable housing crisis and an additional $2 million to provide housing for domestic violence victims – 70.5 percent of those polled said they would vote yes or were leaning toward voting yes.

. Question 3, $61 million for improvements to highways, bridges, airports, public transit, ferry facilities and other transportation infrastructure – 82.6 percent of those polled said they would vote yes or were leaning toward voting yes.

. Question 4, $15 million to capitalize the state’s School Revolving Renovation Fund for repairs to public schools – 77 percent would vote yes or were leaning toward voting yes.

. Question 5, $17 million for improving water pollution systems and drinking water resources – 77 percent would vote yes or were leaning toward voting yes.

. Question 6, $36.7 million to make improvements to the state’s universities, the Maine Maritime Academy and other public learning centers – 62.7 percent would vote yes or were leaning toward voting yes.

Most of those polled had already made up their minds on the questions, according to Murphy. Undecided respondents hovered at around 2 percent for Questions 3, 4 and 5. That number increased slightly more than 3 percent on Questions 1 and 6.

John Melrose, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation, said, historically, state transportation bonds have been approved by 68 to 72 percent of the voters and that the proposals tend to be received more favorably during economic downturns.

“We would be pleased with that result, that’s for sure,” Melrose said in reacting to Question 3’s nearly 83 percent favorable rating in the poll.

With interest rates significantly lower than what was projected by state officials when the bond issues were put together, actual debt service for the projects will be less than what they would have otherwise been.

“It really does make a case for this actually being a good time to go on the market for borrowing,” Melrose said. “We’re also witnessing a much more aggressive bidding market. Bids are coming in under estimate due to the competitiveness that’s out there which, again, points to an opportunity during an economic downturn to get a really great return on the dollar.”

A new economic stimulus package currently under review by Congress also would put reimbursement for $120.8 million in matching federal funds for Question 3 on the fast track, he said. Melrose and Rand said large state transportation projects have a huge impact on the kind of short-term job creation desired by federal lawmakers.

“It would create jobs and have a significant ripple effect economically,” Rand said. “I think the public just wants to do something assertive for the economy and make an investment in the state’s future.”

With only six bond questions on next month’s ballot, some election watchers have predicted a low voter turnout.

But Melrose said the U.S. military reprisal in Afghanistan might have a positive effect on voter turnout.

“Normally you would [expect a lower turnout], but these aren’t normal times and there is obviously a lot of renewal of interest in citizenship,” he said. “I’d be curious to see if more people exercise their democratic right to vote because of national and international events.”