Baldacci pushes $175M borrowing plan

AUGUSTA – The Baldacci administration began to make its pitch for a $175 million borrowing package to legislative budget writers Monday.

Four Baldacci bond proposals drew dozens of potential beneficiaries to testify before the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

The governor has said he hopes to put two of the proposals on a June ballot.

One would raise $70 million for a variety of economic development initiatives. The other – worth $13.3 million – would go to the University of Maine System, the fledgling community college system, state parks, the courts and local arts and cultural projects.

Two other Baldacci borrowing proposals would be left for statewide voting in November under the governor’s plan.

Those are a proposed $75 million bond for highway and bridge improvements and other transportation projects and a proposed $16.8 million bond for water pollution control facilities and other environmental measures.

Additional borrowing proposals from other sponsors total in aggregate more than $322 million.

Baldacci, seeking support for his package, will appeal directly to rank-and-file lawmakers. As part of that effort, he planned to meet with House Republicans on Tuesday morning.

Majorities of two-thirds in both the House and Senate would be required to send any bond proposal to voters.

The Appropriations Committee wrapped up its public hearings on bond proposals Monday evening and was expected to make its recommendations to the full Legislature before the end of the week.