Do you favor a $43,500,000 bond issue for interior and exterior building renovations, improvements and additions at all campuses of the Maine Community College System, the Maine Maritime Academy and the University of Maine System; to replenish the School Revolving Renovation Fund for school repairs and renovations; and to support capital improvements for cultural and educational assets such as museums, historical facilities and libraries?

This major request is much-needed money to keep labs open, classrooms operating and more students going to college. It is a cost Maine should eagerly accept to help educate its next generations of business owners and employees, of consumers and taxpayers, of active and involved citizens.

The bond covers the state – from new classroom and lab space at the University of Maine at Fort Kent to a library expansion at the University of Southern Maine. Eastern Maine Community College would receive nearly $5 million to renovate its primary classroom building and Northern Maine Community College would repair its Mailman Trades Building and Christie Complex and add classroom technology.

Enrollment at Maine’s community colleges is up more than 50 percent in the last five years, an increase of nearly 4,300 students. This is welcome news for both the students and their communities, but it also means the college system’s resources are being stretched even as its facilities are being used hard. If Maine hopes to keep this growth going – and it should – it must offer sufficient funding to maintain or expand the campuses.

In all, 15 campuses statewide would receive funding under this grant, including Maine Maritime Academy, and $1.5 million of the total would be added to the School Revolving Renovation Fund, which helps local school districts improve the safety of schools. Another $2 million would pay for repairs and improvements to public kindergarten through 12th grade schools. The money targets improvements that address health, safety and compliance deficiencies, general renovation needs and learning space upgrades.

In addition, $2 million would be made available to the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council to support its New Century program, which funds arts, humanities and preservation efforts and offers educational services.

Question 3 is a necessary companion to Question 2, which would provide $55 million in funding for research and development with an emphasis on turning that R&D into products and services that can be produced and sold in Maine. Having laboratories and classrooms with up-to-date equipment and technology is necessary to draw R&D funds and top researchers and students to the state.

The large percentage of graduates from public colleges and universities remain in state. If Maine wants to compete and win in a knowledge-based economy, it will invest in higher education to expand access and improve opportunity in Maine. It will support Question 3.