Legislature approves $295M bond proposal Package to focus on road maintenance, repair

AUGUSTA – A $295 million state borrowing package representing a bipartisan deal between majority Democrats and minority Republicans won overwhelming approval in the full Legislature on Wednesday night.

Needing two-thirds majorities in both chambers to pass, the bond package was backed on final votes of 138-6 in the House of Representatives and 33-0 in the Senate.

Its provisions call for the $295 million to be divided for three separate statewide referendum votes in June and November of this year and June 2008.

The three-part package, which carries a heavy emphasis on transportation infrastructure and a total interest cost of nearly $84 million over the life of the proposed 10-year bonds, came before the full Legislature with a unanimous recommendation from the Appropriations Committee.

The committee, along with Democratic and Republican leaders, knitted it together over the last several days.

Lawmakers said action was needed this week to give election officials time to set up a statewide vote on the first portion of the package on June 12.

When debate opened Wednesday night, Republican Sen. Richard Nass of Acton proposed shifting $50 million within the overall amount proposed for borrowing to beef up the sum to be set aside for basic transportation system maintenance and repair.

He suggested that the most important priorities could be shortchanged by having “small amounts of money allocated to a whole host of things.”

Nass’ challenge, however, stirred no debate. His amendment was voted down 27-7, and similar Senate majorities stood firm against other proposed changes in the Appropriations Committee’s product.

The House took up no amendments, and the few representatives who spoke focused largely on the achievement of the committee to reach bipartisan accord.

In paying tribute to the panel’s accomplishment, however, House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, predicted that upcoming deliberations in Appropriations over budget legislation would be “far more difficult than the bond package.”

As designed by the committee, a first ballot question in June would ask voters if they would approve $100 million in Highway Fund bonds, nearly $13 million in General Fund transportation bonds and $18.3 million in additional General Fund bonds for waste water construction grants and related loan funding.

Beyond a $131.3 million proposal for June, the package includes another proposal worth $134 million for voter consideration in November.

Of the $134 million, $55 million would go toward promoting research and economic development, with $50 million in a Maine Technology Institute competitive fund.

Another $43.5 million of the total on November ballots would be for education and cultural purposes, including $23 million for the University of Maine System and $15.5 million for Maine’s community colleges.

Additionally, November voters would be asked to approve or reject $35.5 million for initiatives related to natural resources, including $17 million for the Land for Maine’s Future program, $7.5 million for state parks and historic sites and $5 million for river-based community and economic development projects.

Finally, voters in June 2008 would pass judgment on a final part of the overall package worth $29.7 million, most of which would be for more transportation projects. A smaller amount, $6.7 million, would be raised for a variety of environmental initiatives, including hazardous waste site clean-up and fish hatchery upgrades.

Putting money toward road and bridge repair – in this case, more than $100 million – had been a top priority for lawmakers and Gov. John Baldacci.