University construction bond passes Voters approve $36.7 million for colleges, $15 million for school renovation fund

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Mainers showed how much they value education Tuesday, passing two bond issues for higher education and school improvements by wide margins.

A $36.7 million bond to fund improvements on the state’s public college and university campuses appeared headed for easy victory late in the evening.

With 93 percent of precincts reporting at 12:23 a.m., the ballot question, which includes money for an art center at the University of Maine, was passing 119,060 to 86,863. Voters in Piscataquis and Washington counties, however, were bucking the consensus by rejecting the bond.

Voters in all counties were overwhelmingly in favor of a $15 million bond issue to capitalize the state’s School Revolving Renovation Fund with a vote of 143,112 to 65,217. The fund is used to pay for school repairs and minor construction.

Don McDowell, University of Maine System interim chancellor, was elated when he heard about the figures supporting higher education funding.

“That’s wonderful. I think it shows we got the point across that the infrastructure of the state university system is in need of renewing. The students in the state really helped us get this message across.”

State Board of Education member Jim Rier, who helped create the School Revolving Renovation Fund in 1998, said he was heartened that Mainers recognized the deteriorating condition of some schools.

“This is great news. It indicates the level of public support for school facilities,” he said.

The higher education bond, which requires the individual colleges to raise additional funds, will allocate $4 million to renovate UM’s historic Lord Hall for art department offices, art galleries and lecture halls. A 25,000-square foot-studio building for painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and ceramics would be built at a separate location.

The bond also provides:

. $4.8 million to the University of Maine at Farmington for a portion of the construction of a classroom facility.

. $5.6 million to the University of Maine at Presque Isle toward a health and physical education complex.

. $4 million to the University of Maine at Augusta toward a technology classroom and student center facility.

. $3.2 million to University of Maine at Fort Kent toward a health-technology center connector building and the renovation of a library-classroom.

. $8 million to the University of Southern Maine for a portion of the construction of a community education facility and the renovation of a library-classroom.

. $4 million to Maine Maritime Academy for renovations of dormitories, classrooms and laboratories.

. $1 million to the Maine Technical College System to renovate and equip classroom space at the Bath Higher Education Center, and $200,000 to renovate and equip classroom space at the Katahdin Area Training and Education Center in East Millinocket.

. $1.8 million to the University of Maine System to renovate and equip classroom space at its Western Maine University Center in South Paris, and $100,000 at its Calais Center.

The revolving renovation fund has been helping schools address health, safety and compliance deficiencies and general renovation needs since 1998. Under the new bond, schools also will be able to upgrade learning space.

A state-local partnership, the fund enables school districts to receive between 30 percent and 70 percent of repair costs up to $1 million. A portion of the money doesn’t need to be paid back at all; the rest can be paid back interest-free. When the loans are repaid, the money goes back into the fund to help other schools.

Forty-five thousand Maine students have benefited from the program, which has funded 171 projects in 150 school buildings.

Question 1

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Yes 57.9% 120,507

No 42.1% 87,623

Question 2

BIOMEDICAL-MARINE RESEARCH

Yes 52.6% 108,991

No 47.4% 98,165

Question 3

HIGHWAYS-TRANSPORTATION

Yes 74.1% 153,507

No 25.9% 53,771

Question 4

REPAIRS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Yes 68.7% 143,112

No 31.3% 65,217

Question 5

POLLUTION CONTROLS

Yes 64.9% 134,528

No 35.1% 72,756

Question 6

UNIVERSITIES-LEARNING CENTERS

Yes 57.8% 119,060

No 42.2% 86,863

618 OUT OF 661 PRECINCTS REPORTING

25% VOTER TURNOUT