Legislature Enacts Bond Package
April 4, 2007
Funding Plan will go to Maine voters in three Elections
Augusta—The Maine Senate enacted a $295 million Bond package, Wednesday evening, which completed the legislative process on the two-year spending and investment proposal. Over the next several election cycles, Maine voters will have the opportunity to adopt the carefully negotiated package between Republicans and Democrats.
Commenting on the passage of the bond package, Senate President Beth Edmonds, D-Cumberland County, said, “This is a truly thoughtful, balanced package, which generates funding that will benefit all Mainers.“ President Edmonds added, “The $295 million approved by the Legislature has the potential to leverage over $400 million in matching funds to create a wide scope of investments to help us build for Maine's future.”
Senate Majority Leader Libby Mitchell, D-Kennebec County, said, “This is a real opportunity to improve our roads and bridges, invest in our economy, and our natural resources. This bond package reflects the recommendations of the Brookings Report, the Governors Jobs and Innovation Council, and others.” Senator Mitchell added, “I am proud of the hard work that everyone has contributed to make this investment in our state possible.”
Senator Peggy Rotundo, D-Androscoggin County, the Senate Chair of the Appropriations Committee, which helped negotiate the final bond package with legislative leadership, added, "I’m very pleased that we worked together so well as a committee in a truly bipartisan fashion. “ She concluded, “I look forward to the same positive spirit as we return to our work on the budget.”
The questions that will be on the ballots are as follows: The June 12, 2007 ballot will ask for a $112,975,000 bond issue for improvements to highways and bridges, airports, public transit facilities, ferry and port facilities including port and harbor structures and bicycle and pedestrian trails that makes the State eligible for over $260,525,000 in federal and other matching funds. In June, voters will also be asked to approve an $18,300,000 bond issue to support drinking water programs and to support the construction of wastewater treatment facilities that will leverage $49,500,000 in other funds.
In the November 2007 voters will be given two categories of bond funding to approve. The Education and Culture funding portion will present 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.
The November ballot will also ask voters to approve a bond to stimulate economic development and job creation that would provide $5,000,000 in loans and grant funds and would provide $50,000,000 in research, development and commercialization funds for targeted technology sectors, awarded after a competitive process administered by the Maine Technology Institute, and will leverage at least $50,000,000 in other funds.
Finally, Natural Resources will be addressed in the November bond with question for the voters to approve a $35,500,000 bond to invest in land conservation, water access, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting and fishing, farmland and working waterfront and to invest in state parks, historic sites and riverfront, community and farm infrastructure to be matched by at least $21,875,000 in private and public contributions.
There will also be a June 2008 bond ballot. It will ask voters to approve a $29,725,000 bond issue for natural resource, agricultural and transportation infrastructure that will leverage $29,780,000 in other funds.
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